ALOR STAR – Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor lamented the high rate of road accidents in the state over the past four days as traffic surged with the first celebration of Hari Raya Aidilfitri after two years of lockdown.
Under Ops Selamat 18 launched by traffic police, there were 76 fatalities nationwide since April 29 of which five were recorded in Kedah, Sanusi noted in a statement.
“And from the 1,650 accidents in the country, 422 were in Kedah.
“This is both alarming and unsettling. There is a need to be extra careful when on the roads during the festive break,” Sanusi said.
Among the deaths was a 9-year-old boy who was killed on the spot after he was run over by a vehicle while trying to cross a road in Kota Sarang Semut here.
Road accidents hurt the victims’ families, but most importantly, the state also suffers from such senseless deaths, said Sanusi.
“They can be avoided if road users are careful.”
Sanusi also urged Kedahans to adhere to Covid-19 standard operating procedures despite the festive relaxations.
“The virus continues to lurk in the background. We need to avoid it,” he said. – The Vibes, May 4, 2022
