Teach responsible behaviour when they’re young

MUCH emotion has been evoked over the case of Sam Ke Ting who is facing six years in jail after being involved in an accident that killed eight teenagers in 2017 in Johor Baru; the teens were riding “basikal lajak” (modified bicycles) illegally on a dark highway.

And fairly or unfairly, parents and guardians of all the Mat Lajak and Mat Rempit (those who ride motorcycles dangerously) everywhere have been told off for the behaviour of their children.

Youth racing on the streets just has to stop.

I believe this begins with all the adults around children known to indulge in this behaviour – if they are not your kids, inform their parents so they can be stopped. Otherwise, this national problem will just worsen.

The other issue is speeding, a cause of many road fatalities in Malaysia. Something must be done to inculcate responsible behaviour on the roads as our yearly national figures on road accidents and deaths are just too high.

I believe it has now come to a point that teaching good behaviour on the roads has to start in primary school. Taught early, young children will know their duty of care to themselves and others and will be better road users in the future.

R. SURESH

Petaling Jaya