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KUALA LUMPUR – Transport Minister Datuk Seri Wee Ka Siong has called on the public to behave rationally upon facing heavy criticism after clerk Sam Ke Ting was recently found guilty of reckless driving causing the death of eight teenage cyclists.
In a statement written in Chinese, Wee, who is also MCA president, bemoaned that he has been made a punching bag after being targeted by netizens who were outraged by Sam’s conviction.
“As an ordinary person, I have feelings. I call on our fellow netizens to be rational. I also hope that the person involved will be granted bail when the Court of Appeal hears her application next Monday.”
Meanwhile, he highlighted that Malaysia practises the principle of separation of powers and has three branches of government – executive, legislature and judiciary.
“Our country has laws and any court ruling must be respected and be free of interference.
“You have the right to disagree with the court ruling, and you have the right to vent your feelings. When netizens started questioning why the victims’ parents were let off the hook, I said, ‘laws cannot be used retrospectively’.
“The case happened in 2017. When I became transport minister in 2020, I immediately amended the Road Transport Act 1987 to include heavier penalties on drunk driving, basikal lajak, and so on.
“You cannot achieve anything by making me your punching bag.”
He added that some were unhappy with the court judgement and some felt that Sam did not get the right legal counsel.
“In the end, I’m the one getting ‘spat on’. The Transport Ministry may have enacted the Road Transport Act, but the police are the enforcers. The ministry’s enforcement is limited. In the end, it is the transport minister that ends up being ‘cursed’.”
Sam on Wednesday was sentenced to six years’ jail and a fine of RM6,000, and ordered to serve the jail sentence immediately. She was also disqualified from driving for three years and must serve another six months in jail if she fails to pay the fine.
The decision set aside the magistrates’ court’s decision on October 10 last year to acquit and discharge Sam.
Upon appeal from the prosecution, the high court had, in February 2021, ordered her to enter her defence.
However, Malaysians are unhappy with the ruling, leading to more than half a million signatures and four petitions.
Of the four petitions, one is addressed to the chief registrar of the Johor Baru High Court and another to the Court of Appeal.
One of the petitions was initiated by Centre of Integrity, Professional Governance and Advancement president Myocho Chan, who related his personal experience of also being involved in a fatal road accident.
A petition by Muhammad Affin directed at the chief registrar said that the judgment against Sam must be led by facts and not emotions.
Meanwhile, a petition by Wan Junaida addressed to the appellate court said Sam should not be faulted for the incident that happened on a quiet stretch of highway in the wee hours of the morning involving illegally modified bicycles.
“We the people of Malaysia are horrified with the latest punishment meted out to Sam, despite supporting facts showing she was a responsible driver. She is the real victim in this incident.
“The parents of these future ‘mat rempits’ failed at parenting when they allowed their children to loiter on roads with their modified bicycles, or basikal lajak, at three in the morning.” – The Vibes, April 16, 2022
