DAP MP not surprised Zahid seeks to score points with teens' deaths
Ahmad Zahid Hamidi's remarks about a woman's acquittal over a reckless driving charge in relation to an accident which claimed the lives of eight teenage cyclists drew excoriation from various quarters.
However, DAP lawmaker Charles Santiago is not surprised that the Umno president attempted to capitalise on the issue.
Ahmad Zahid Hamidi's remarks about a woman's acquittal over a reckless driving charge in relation to an accident which claimed the lives of eight teenage cyclists drew excoriation from various quarters.
However, DAP lawmaker Charles Santiago is not surprised that the Umno president attempted to capitalise on the issue.
“I am not surprised given that Umno leaders have always used every opportunity possible to play the race card, even when it involves the death of young children and grieving families.
“Zahid is no different and was just overtly eager to score brownie points by trying to look at this incident and the court verdict using racial lenses,” he told Malaysiakini this evening.
In doing so, the Klang MP said, Zahid failed to look at what could be done to avoid such incidents where children lose their lives for being out on the streets in the wee hours of the morning, racing on their modified bicycles.
“I have followed up on the comments following the acquittal of the driver and many Malaysians were angry at the parents for bad parenting and not supervising their children.
“In my opinion, all of us have collectively failed the kids by neglecting to provide safe spaces for them,” he added.
However, Charles said criminalising the act or blaming parents are not the solution.
“Instead we need to create better work opportunities for parents from the B40 economic bracket who work many jobs and aren't in a position to monitor their children.
“We need to look into increasing wages, a better welfare system, better social services and certainly better outlets for kids to express themselves.
“Comments such as those from Zahid only serve to further polarise the society when the society needs to come together as one to protect each other,” he added.
At a ceramah in Tanjung Piai, Johor, on Wednesday night, Zahid had cast aspersions on magistrate Siti Hajar Ali's decision to free Sam Ke Ting, 24, of the reckless driving charge.
Although the Umno president did not mention race, his remarks came in the wake of the criticism on social media regarding the ruling, which focused on the driver's race.
On Oct 28, the Johor Bahru Magistrate's Court freed the driver without calling her to the stand after finding that the prosecution failed to prove a prima facie case.
In her judgment, Siti Hajar said the court took into consideration several factors, namely that it was a dark, hilly and winding road where the driver - who was not local to the area - could not foresee that there would be a group of cyclists on the road at 3am.
The magistrate added that the cyclists had put themselves in danger.
Siti Hajar said investigations found that Sam was not under the influence of alcohol, was not using her phone and wore a seatbelt while driving, proving that the accused was driving responsibly and carefully.
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