29/06/2025

NATIONAL 5 ON SUNDAY JUNE 29, 2025

Public urged to report teens riding without helmets

Two more students held in college bullying case JERTIH: Two more students from the Mara Junior Science College in Besut, Kuala Terengganu have been detained by police in connection with an ongoing probe on a bullying case at the school. Besut police chief Supt Azamuddin Ahmad@Abu said the two Form Three students were detained at 4pm on Friday after arriving at the Besut district police headquarters with their families. “The arrest of the two brings the total number of detained students to seven – six Form Three students and one Form Five student. “Five students have been remanded for three days while the two arrested (yesterday) will be taken to the Kuala Terengganu Magistrate’s Court to obtain a remand order,” he said in a statement. Azamuddin explained that the remand order was issued against all suspects to enable investigations under Section 147 of the Penal Code for rioting. In a related development, he said on Thursday his department received a report from a Form Two student who was also allegedly a victim in the same incident. The student claimed he was bullied by the same group at 11.30pm on Tuesday in the boarding school hostel, resulting in pain in both legs. Based on the victim’s report, Azamuddin said the boy was forced to crouch in a semi-squat position with slippers placed on his head for 40 minutes. He was also punched in the abdomen and slapped, causing pain in his abdomen and right side as well as bruises on his back. – Bernama IPOH: An pre-dawn fire destroyed 21 houses, a restaurant and a temple in Bagan Pasir Laut, Hutan Melintang yesterday. Perak Fire and Rescue Department assistant director of operations Sabarodzi Nor Ahmad said no casualties were reported in the incident. The department received a distress call at 4.52am and the first fire engine arrived at the scene about 12 minutes later. “Two engines from the Hutan Melintang and Teluk Intan Fire and Rescue stations, along with the Bagan Tiang Volunteer Fire Brigade were deployed to the scene. “When the team arrived, seven houses were already ablaze. The fire spread rapidly due to the proximity of the houses,” he said in a statement. Sabarodzi explained that firefighting efforts were hampered by low water pressure from fire hydrants and the risk of electrical arcing from active power cables. – Bernama Early morning blaze destroys 23 buildings

Experts warn weak enforcement and under-reporting fuel dangerous behaviour in neighbourhoods

Ű BY FAIZ RUZMAN newsdesk@thesundaily.com

PETALING JAYA: Authorities are urging the public to report individuals riding motorcycles without helmets in residential areas, especially teenagers. According to the Road Transport Department (RTD), Rule 4 of the Motorcycle (Helmet) Rules 1973 mandates that all motorcyclists and pillion riders must wear helmets while riding. Failure to comply is punishable with a compound fine of RM300. In addition, Section 39 of the Road Transport Act 1987 states that any individuals, including parents or guardians, who allow unlicensed teenagers under 16 to ride motorcycles may face fines of up to RM2,000, six months’ imprisonment, or both. RTD has called on the public to submit complaints via its dedicated WhatsApp hotline at +6019-2907723. “Reports should include details such as the time and date of the incident, location, type of motorcycle and number plate. Clear photographic or video evidence is also required to support the complaint. “Alternatively, the public may lodge reports through the Transport Ministry’s general hotline at 1800-88-7723,” the department told theSun . In a separate development, the Traffic Investigation and Enforcement Department reported via Facebook that on June 24, a total of 1,740 traffic incidents had been recorded, including 14 fatalities. While this reflects a decrease of two deaths compared with the previous day, the department noted a rise of 13 cases within the same period. Despite existing regulations, teenagers and adults continue to ride motorcycles without helmets in neighbourhoods nationwide, often

The department said despite existing regulations, teenagers and adults continue to ride motorcycles without helmets in neighbourhoods. – ADIB RAWI YAHYA/THESUN

Teik Hua warned that riding without a helmet raises the risk of fatal head injuries by about 40%. He pointed to multiple behavioural factors, including peer influence, lack of awareness and a false sense of security in areas with minimal police presence, as contributing to the issue. “Many of these riders are unlicensed and juveniles. They ride at high speeds, ignore traffic rules and put not just themselves but pedestrians at serious risk. “Older people and children, who may not react quickly enough, are especially vulnerable,” he said. Law added that inconsistent enforcement in residential areas and weak penalties for first-time offenders continue to fuel the problem. “The fact that some offenders can’t be properly identified due to lack of ID complicates enforcement further. “Without firmer action and education, we will only see more injuries, more fatalities and a culture of impunity,” he said. Both experts agreed that community-based efforts such as public awareness campaigns, random checks and road safety programmes in schools are critical to ending the growing trend.

without consequence. Meanwhile, road safety experts have attributed the prevalence of such behaviour to under-reporting and weak enforcement. Universiti Pertahanan Nasional Malaysia highway and transport specialist Assoc Prof Dr Ng Choy Peng said her observations show an increasing number of teenagers riding motorcycles, scooters and micromobility vehicles without helmets or safety gear. “This situation particularly endangers community members during peak hours and even more so at night, when teenagers ride without turning on headlights or wearing visible clothing. “The lack of patrolling authorities in these areas weakens enforcement. Traffic police may only act if the teens venture out of the housing zones,” she said. Ng also called for improved safety education in schools and proposed holding parents legally accountable. “While RM300 is the current fine, I believe authorities should consider raising it in cases involving underage riders,” she added. Meanwhile, Universiti Putra Malaysia transport expert Dr Law

Businessman cheated of almost RM1 million in tender scam KUALA TERENGGANU: A

the victim. Lured by the online romance and trusting the man, the victim made 16 transactions to five different bank accounts between Dec 12 and 14, 2024. However, she realised she had been scammed when the man asked for more money, allegedly to cover his travel expenses to visit her in Malaysia. Mohd Alwi said the woman lodged a police report at the Southwest district police headquarters on Friday. – Bernama

relationship with the victim. “The man introduced himself as a businessman in the field of information technology, claiming to be operating overseas. “After a month of getting to know each other, the man told the victim that his bank account had been frozen and asked for her help to make payments for the delivery of important stock,” he said. Mohd Alwi said the man promised to repay the money and even offered additional payment as a token of appreciation to convince

Meanwhile in Penang, an analysis manager at a factory in Bayan Baru lost RM300,000 after falling victim to a love scam through social media. Penang police deputy chief Datuk Mohd Alwi Zainal Abidin said the incident began when the 45-year-old woman became acquainted with a man claiming to be an American citizen via Facebook in November last year. Not long after, they began communicating via WhatsApp when the man allegedly expressed interest in pursuing a serious

“The victim made deposit payments totalling RM932,300 into two different bank accounts using both company funds and personal savings. “However, upon checking with the college, the victim discovered that no such tender had been offered,” he said in a statement yesterday. Azli added that the victim lodged a police report on Friday and the case is being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating.

businessman lost RM932,300 after falling victim to a syndicate offering tenders for a purported procurement project for a college in the Kemaman district. Kuala Terengganu district police chief ACP Azli Mohd Noor said the 52-year-old victim received a WhatsApp message on May 28 from a man claiming to be a representative of the college. The alleged perpetrator offered the victim a closed tender to supply and deliver portable generator sets.