06/07/2026

MONDAY | JULY 6, 2026

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Use billboards with other actions for road safety: Miros

Govt urged to take action on synthetic drugs KUALA LUMPUR: The Alliance for a Safe Community has urged the government to implement a comprehensive national response to address the growing abuse of synthetic drugs. Its chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye said the matter was particularly linked to vape products, accounting for 73% of drug abuse cases and contributing to worsening mental health problems among youth. He added that data from enforcement agencies showed the trend had become a serious public health, mental health and social crisis requiring urgent intervention. “Unlike conventional drugs, synthetic drugs are manufactured using dangerous chemical compounds that are often far more potent and unpredictable. Their effects on the brain could be devastating. “Frequent use could damage brain function and alter normal chemical activity, increasing the risk of severe mental health conditions such as anxiety disorders, depression, paranoia, hallucinations, psychosis, violent behaviour, and in some cases, long term schizophrenia-like symptoms.” Lee said many young individuals were unaware that substances inhaled through vape devices could rapidly impair judgment, damage the brain and trigger serious psychiatric conditions, while the discreet appearance of the devices made enforcement more challenging. He added that the condition, commonly referred to by medical experts as a dual diagnosis, in which an individual simultaneously suffers from substance use disorder and a mental illness, was more difficult to treat because both conditions reinforced each other. To tackle the problem, Lee called for tougher nationwide enforcement against the manufacture, trafficking, online sale and distribution of synthetic drugs, especially those concealed in vape liquids and cartridges, as well as stronger border controls to curb the smuggling of synthetic drug precursors. He also urged the government to expand awareness campaigns in schools, colleges and universities, strengthen mental health screening for individuals undergoing drug rehabilitation, and enhance collaboration among the National Anti Drug Agency, Health Ministry, educational institutions, law enforcement agencies and mental health professionals. Lee also called on parents and teachers to recognise early warning signs of drug abuse and mental health problems, while urging the authorities to review existing laws on vape products to prevent them from being exploited as a delivery system for dangerous synthetic substances. “Drug rehabilitation today must go beyond treating addiction alone. “It must also address the psychological and psychiatric consequences of synthetic drug use. “Without integrated treatment, many recovering addicts will remain vulnerable to relapse, self-harm, violence, homelessness and involvement in crime.“ – Bernama

awareness must be continuous, adding that Malaysia could not afford to treat road deaths as routine. Lee, who is also a National Road Safety Council member, said the council had recently discussed the daily toll of 18 road deaths, with more than 60% involving motorcyclists. “With 18 people dying on our roads every day, it is far too serious a matter to be ignored. Even one death is too many.” He added that highways were filled with billboards advertising commercial products, housing and consumer goods, but dedicated road safety messages were rarely seen. “I think the private sector must play a crucial role in this. Companies could still use billboards to advertise their products, but beneath the advertisement, they could include road safety messages. “At the same time, LED signboards could also be used along highways and other roads. For example, they could show how many people are dying on the roads every day and provide up-to date figures. “Road safety is a government responsibility, but it is not only a government responsibility. It is a shared responsibility.”

seatbelt use, in which many passengers still refused to comply despite knowing seatbelts save lives. He said a Miros study found that 70% of rear passengers who did not wear seatbelts, despite understanding their importance, said they would only do so if enforcement action was taken. “That means they would wear it only if tickets were being issued or if someone was issuing summonses. That is why it has to be a package. It cannot be standalone.” On July 4, Bukit Aman Traffic Investigation and Enforcement Department director Datuk Seri Muhammed Hasbullah Ali said reckless and dangerous driving cases rose nearly 50% in the first six months of this year. He added that 1,278 investigation papers had been opened from Jan 1 to June 28 compared with 852 in the same period last year. He also said the main causes included non-compliance with traffic rules and signals, dangerous overtaking, cutting in, tailgating, failure to give way and provocation through excessive horn use, hand gestures or verbal disputes. Meanwhile, Alliance for a Safe Community chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye said road safety

o ‘Move would be effective when supported by enforcement and awareness campaigns’

Ű BY FAIZ RUZMAN newsdesk@thesundaily.com

anything else, the effectiveness is very, very low. “But if the billboard carries the same message (as other platforms), it would be effective for that period of time.” He added that signs placed before automated awareness safety system cameras or police checks were therefore more effective than generic reminders to drive carefully. He also said reckless driving was a broad category and could involve speeding, aggression, impaired judgment, slower reaction time or influence from illegal substances, making a singular billboard message difficult. “You could put up an advertisement saying, ‘Don’t drink and drive,’ but how many people will really follow it if there is no enforcement? “Campaigns and advertisements are good. They are important to create awareness. “But creating awareness by itself, without further action, has low effectiveness.” Wong said the limits of awareness could be seen in rear

PETALING JAYA: Road safety billboards and signage could reduce crash rates, but are unlikely to change driver behaviour if used only as a standalone reminders, the Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (Miros) said. Its chairman Prof Dr Wong Shaw Voon said such messaging could help only when supported by enforcement, wider campaigns and clear targets such as speeding, tailgating, overtaking or seatbelt use. “It is not behavioural change, but the crash rate could reduce. “However, that depends on the situation. It is not that you simply put up a sign or billboard and it automatically reduces crashes. It also comes with other factors,” he told theSun . Wong said billboard campaigns were more effective when they reinforced the same message carried through other platforms, including radio, newspapers and enforcement operations. “If it stands alone, without Mother arrested for negligence KUALA LUMPUR: Police have arrested the mother of two children who were filmed sticking their heads out of a moving car’s sunroof. Kajang police chief ACP Naazron Abdul Yusof said the 30 year-old woman was detained after she came to the police headquarters to give her statement on Saturday. She was later released on police bail after her statement was recorded. Naazron said police had detected a video showing the two children, aged four and six, on social media. He added that the incident was believed to have taken place along the Grand Saga Highway in Cheras near Kampung Batu 1, and a police report was received at 5.28pm on Saturday. The case is being investigated under Section 31(1)(a) of the Child Act 2001 and Section 336 of the Penal Code for negligent acts endangering the life or personal safety of others. He advised the public to always comply with traffic laws and practise responsible behaviour to ensure their own safety and that of other road users, especially when it involved children. – Bernama

Azhar Helmi said firefighters used special equipment to extricate the two deceased individuals before their remains were handed to police. – PIC COURTESY OF KELANTAN DAILY FACEBOOK PAGE

SUV crashes into surau , two killed KOTA BHARU: Two Indonesian women died after the sports utility vehicle (SUV) they were travelling in crashed into a surau . Station chief Azhar Helmi Mustofar said the department received an emergency call regarding the incident at 6.34am before

at the scene as a result of being trapped with serious head and body injuries.” Azhar Helmi said firefighters used special equipment to extricate the two deceased individuals before their bodies were handed to police for further action. He added that the four other injured individuals were sent to the Tengku Anis Hospital for treatment, while the rescue operation ended at 7.44am. – Bernama

mobilising seven members from the Pasir Puteh station and six members from the Ketereh station to the location. “There were six individuals in the vehicle and all of them were Indonesians. Two female passengers in the back, in their 30s and 50s respectively, were confirmed dead

The SUV is believed to have skidded before ramming into a surau at Sekolah Kebangsaan Bukit Jawa 2 on Jalan Selising-Bukit Merbau in Pasir Puteh. The two victims and four other individuals were in the vehicle during the incident. Pasir Puteh Fire and Rescue