People must be held responsible for safety

SAFETY accidents – particularly among small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) – and road incidents involving motorcyclists have long been a concern in our nation due to the lack of clear responsibility and accountability.

Urgent action is necessary to address these issues, establish well-defined key performance indicators, and identify responsible parties.

When an accident occurs in a multinational corporation, it is usually the case that the entire organisation will initiate investigations, implement corrective measures, and ensure similar incidents are prevented.

This well-structured approach ensures that safety is taken seriously at all levels of management, with continuous follow-up on mitigation and preventive actions, and the diligent implementation of lessons learned.

In contrast, when we examine SMEs and road accidents, it becomes evident that oversight roles are not being effectively fulfilled. Often, the general public is uncertain about who should assume responsibility, leading to useless finger-pointing. Actions taken are frequently reactive and lack long-term sustainability, and are primarily aimed at minimising public outcries.

From 2001 to 2021, Malaysia witnessed a staggering 89,953 motorcycle-related deaths, averaging 12 deaths per day.

This alarming statistic raises questions about accountability for this ongoing tragedy.

The sight of motorcyclists disregarding dedicated lanes and riding on main roads or beating traffic lights is disheartening.

The normalisation of such dangerous practices persists when enforcement is lacking.

It is crucial to define the accountability of the authorities, making the person in charge answerable to the public, especially when accident investigation reports of public interest go unpublished or face long delays in completion. This raises concerns that responsible parties are being shielded.

In the realm of industrial accidents, despite having Occupa-tional Safety and Health Act (Osha) laws in place, employers, particularly SMEs, often do not take safety seriously enough.

Even in cases of severe negligence, fines are paid and life moves on – there appear to be very few, if any, instances where individuals responsible were jailed, despite provisions in the Osha law. To strengthen the nation’s commitment to accountability and safety, several essential points must be considered:

> Elevate the issue of safety in Parliament by advocating for a shift in parliamentary debates to place greater emphasis on the matter.

> Learn from expert suggestions put forth by credible experts over the years relating to improving safety in phailing services, incentivising safe bike riders, and implementing re-education programmes for repeat offenders. And question why no one has acted on these and many other excellent ideas.

> Address the lack of action by authorities and raise questions about their accountability when enforcement measures fall short.

If necessary, redefine primary responsibilities in cases of overlapping roles, such as those between the Road Transport Department and the police.

> Appoint a non-politician to lead the safety council, someone with credibility who is empowered and unafraid to make unpopular decisions that benefit safety.

It is essential to establish clear responsibilities and an accountability matrix for all stakeholders in safety accidents, including road accidents. It is our duty to demand change, raise awareness, and advocate for effective measures to safeguard the well-being of our citizens.

CHIN YEW SIN

Shah Alam