[UPDATED] Abolish outrider services for ministers: Steven Sim

KUALA LUMPUR – Bukit Mertajam MP Steven Sim has called for the abolishment of outriders for ministers, after a video showing two outriders allegedly nearly causing an accident in Penang was widely shared.

He took to Twitter to question the use of outriders for “the safety of VIPs”, adding that ministers already have police escorts.

“How about the safety of the public and what about ambulances that have to stop to make way for a minister’s vehicle convoy? Ministers are the kings. Let’s abolish outrider services for ministers.

“There’s no need to waste police resources.”

The DAP rep also shared a written parliamentary reply dated March 23 that listed those who are entitled to the outrider service.

They include the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Raja Permaisuri Agong, the sultans and their wives, heads of state and their wives, Tengku Mahkota/Raja Muda, the prime minister and wife, the deputy prime minister and wife, ministers, deputy ministers representing the prime minister at official functions, and the former prime ministers.

The document stated that the government intends to continue the service to ensure the safety of the VIPs on the road, and to avoid any threats during their journey to their destinations.

The list shows that MPs without ministerial positions or their family members are not entitled to the service.

Meanwhile, DAP’s Bukit Bendera MP Wong Hon Wai agreed with Sim’s statement, saying traffic police are tasked to control traffic and not escort the son of a parliamentarian.

“Long serving parliamentarians do not have the privilege of police escorts, let alone the son of an MP.

“I call on police to carry out a full investigation, not just on the officers, but the driver as well. I also urge the inspector-general to discipline traffic police so that the privilege is not abused.”

He added that ministers should experience traffic congestion like everyone else and should only be given privilege under desperate circumstances due to very important official duties.

Videos of outriders purportedly escorting the son of Baling MP Datuk Seri Abdul Azeez Abdul Rahim – Mohamed Khairul Anwar – showed a near accident as the outriders tried to stop an oncoming car looking to make a turn.

The oncoming vehicle can be seen braking abruptly to avoid colliding with the outrider who is on a motorcycle in the recording that was widely shared yesterday.

Penang police chief Datuk Mohd Shuhaily Mohd Zain today said an investigation has been opened into the incident to determine, among others, officer misconduct.

Late December, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob’s convoy caught on a short video where an ambulance was among the vehicles blocked for the government entourage to pass.

The Selangor Traffic Investigation and Enforcement Department had said that there was a risk of an accident and danger to other road users if the four-wheel-drive vehicle and Malaysian Red Crescent ambulance were allowed to exit the junction. – The Vibes, May 8, 2022