10/07/2025

THURSDAY | JULY 10, 2025

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Call for overhaul of rural road safety assessments

Open burning during monsoon could trigger haze JOHOR BAHRU: The peak of the Southwest Monsoon, expected between July and September, could lead to localised and cross-border haze if open burning activities are not kept in check. Johor Fire and Rescue Department director Siti Rohani Nadir said while this year’s monsoon is not expected to be extreme, due to the El Niño southern oscillation entering a neutral phase, the prolonged dry spell could pose serious health risks, water supply shortages, as well as forest and bush fires. “The Meteorological Department has advised the public to be alert to health risks, such as dehydration and heatstroke.” She also advised the public to stay updated on weather forecasts and take preventive measures to minimise the impact of heat and potential fires throughout the period. She said from the start of the southwest monsoon from May until early June, Johor recorded 108 open burning cases, 103 of which involved non-peatland areas. Siti Rohani added that the combination of hot, dry weather and uncontrolled open burning was the main cause behind these incidents. She urged the public to avoid open burning, warning that such fires are difficult to control, pose serious health risks and degrade air quality. – Bernama Suspected sex offender arrested SHAH ALAM: A Pakistani man suspected of sexually assaulting several boys in Section 27 and Section 28 here has been arrested in Kuala Nerang, Kedah. Shah Alam police chief ACP Mohd Iqbal Ibrahim said the 25-year-old, linked to four cases involving male victims aged nine, 13, 14 and 19, was caught on Tuesday in Durian Burung, Kuala Nerang while allegedly trying to flee to a neighbouring country. Another Pakistani man believed to have helped the suspect evade arrest was also detained, Bernama reported. “Two cases are being probed under Section 14(a) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017 and two under Section 377C of the Penal Code for committing unnatural sex.” He urged anyone with information to contact investigating officer Insp Siti Mahanira Mahat at 017-644 4895. morning saw a crocodile surfacing with what looked like a human body in its jaws, said the department. However, the crocodile quickly dived into the deep waters, it added. “Marine Police and volunteer villagers had also deployed boats to help in the search.“ The Sarawak Forestry Corporation has also called its armed Sarawak Wildlife Action Team to hunt the reptile. The team has been deployed to ensure safety of others in the search, and help capture the crocodile if possible. Rivers in remote Sarawak are full of crocodiles, with some found to measure up to 15m in length. – BY JOSEPH PETER

He said with vehicles becoming increasingly advanced in terms of safety technology, our roads must catch up and reflect that same level of safety culture. “Yes, cost is a concern but we must find the right balance between engineering solutions and cost efficiency because that is the core of the safe system approach. “It is not just the department that should be responsible. The Highway Authority, state governments and local authorities have roles to play.” Ahmad Farhan said given the number of similar incidents that have occurred at this location, the relevant road authorities should have taken corrective measures long ago. “How many more lives must be lost before real action is taken?” On Monday, a family of six was found dead inside a car that had plunged into Sungai Korok. The Fire and Rescue Department on Tuesday revealed 13 such incidents at the same location since 2012, involving 10 deaths.

road’s design,” he added, calling it a case of unprofessional oversight by the responsible authorities. Ahmad Farhan highlighted that every crash involves a combination of three key elements, namely the vehicle, driver and the road or environment. He said although data shows that 70% of crashes are caused by human error, we must accept that people make mistakes, so road infrastructure and technology must step in to prevent collisions or reduce the severity of its outcome. “One key recommendation is to review and strengthen the practices of road safety audits. “From my experience, road safety audits are usually carried out as a requirement during the planning and approval stages of new road projects. But once the road is operational, are follow-up audits ever done? “More importantly, when crashes happen, why have we not responded to those incidents with corrective action?”

o Academic says less traffic does not mean lower risk, especially when route runs close to rivers or streams without barriers

Ű BY QIRANA NABILLA MOHD RASHIDI newsdesk@thesundaily.com

He also emphasised the need for Malaysia to adopt the “forgiving roads” principle, a safety concept in which road infrastructure is designed to reduce the severity of collisions even when drivers make mistakes. “Drivers could fall asleep, lose control or misjudge a turn. A forgiving road does not punish them with death, instead it gives them a second chance.” He said such roads should include guardrails, safety buffer zones and clear zones at the roadside, especially in areas next to rivers, cliffs or steep drop-offs. “The fact that a car could veer off and plunge into a stream without any form of barrier shows that safety was not prioritised in the

PETALING JAYA: A road safety expert has called for an overhaul of how rural roads are assessed and maintained, following repeated incidents of vehicles plunging into rivers, including the recent tragedy in Sungai Korok, Kedah, which claimed six lives. Universiti Putra Malaysia vice-chancellor Prof Datuk Dr Ahmad Farhan Mohd Sadullah, who is also professor in Transport Studies, raised concerns over the lack of protective infrastructure along rural roads. He warned that lower traffic volumes do not necessarily mean lower risk, especially in areas where the roads run dangerously close to rivers or streams without barriers. “While the Public Works Department conducts road safety audits, the system often evaluates risk based on road hierarchy, with major highways receiving more attention due to higher usage. “Just because a road is in a rural area does not mean it is safe. If it runs beside a stream and lacks barriers or buffer zones, it is clearly hazardous,” he added. Ahmad Farhan said Malaysia must move beyond rigid audit criteria and adopt a more holistic, risk-based approach that considers site-specific hazards and the lack of guardrails or buffer zones. “I am not sure how many metres the road is from the stream but there are clearly no buffer zones or emergency lanes. This is typical of local village roads. “In places such as Batu Pahat in Johor, it is common to see these roadside drains or rivers right next to narrow roads.” BATU PAHAT: A senior citizen has lost RM1.7 million after falling victim to an online investment scam. Batu Pahat police chief ACP Shahrulanuar Mushaddat Abdullah Sani said the 67-year-old man came across the investment advertisement on social media in December last year. The retiree then contacted an individual through WhatsApp to obtain more information. “The victim was promised a 50% return from the investment within three months. He made several investments between April and July. “He also downloaded an app and registered an account to monitor the investments.” Shahrulanuar Mushaddat said the investment account showed a profit of RM2 million. “However, when the victim

Ahmad Farhan highlighted that every crash involves a combination of three key elements, namely the vehicle, driver and the road or environment. – AMIRUL SYAFIQ/THESUN

Retiree loses RM1.7m in investment scam

Hunt on for killer crocodile after victim found dead

“On May 11, the complainant saw a Facebook advertisement offering an investment opportunity and later contacted several individuals via WhatsApp. “They promised daily returns of 10%, and from May 14 to June 17, the victim transferred RM302,100.” Loi said the complainant made 18 transactions to three accounts and realised that he had been scammed when they requested additional funds for him to withdraw the promised returns and his capital. “The public is advised to verify with police before making suspicious transactions. Checks can also be done via the Semak Mule app, the Commercial Crime Investigation Department Facebook page or by contacting the National Scam Response Centre at 997.” – Bernama

attempted to withdraw the money, he was told to make additional payments, which he refused to do. “On Monday, the victim had not received any returns. The individual could not be contacted and access to the investment account had been blocked.” He said the case is being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating. In a separate case in Kedah, a company director lost over RM300,000 after falling victim to an investment scam promoted through an online advertisement in May. Kedah police contingent headquarters Commercial Crime Investigation Department chief Supt Loi Yew Lik said the 44-year-old man lodged a police report at 1.04pm in Alor Setar on Monday.

LIMBANG: Authorities have found the body of a man reported to have been snatched by a big crocodile at a river in Limbang district, northern Sarawak. State Fire and Rescue Department teams found the remains of Karim Osman, 58, in Sungai Pandam, about 100m from his village. The body was still intact, the department said in an update. Since yesterday, search teams had been combing Sungai Pandam, which flows for more than 60km from Limbang town. Karim went missing on Tuesday afternoon after being snatched by the crocodile while fishing on his boat near a riverbank. A search team at the site yesterday