Some good sense from Samy Vellu, actually surprising!

This Semi-value never ceases to amuse me. But reading Nothing wrong with roads, users the problem, says Samy Vellu and New Straits Times - Samy Vellu peeved over ‘Malaysian’ road study, really surprised me.

He do have some good sense.

Now, the million dollar question! "WHO HAS FAILED TO ENFORCE RULES AND REGULATIONS on the road?"

Any bright answer?
Anyone?



The Star Online > Nation

Wednesday June 1, 2005
Nothing wrong with roads, users the problem, says Samy Vellu

KUALA LUMPUR: There is nothing wrong with Malaysian roads. It is the users who are the ones with the problem, said Works Minister Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu.

“There is nothing wrong with the design of roads here. It is the same as that around the world. It is the motorcyclists who want to commit suicide by flouting the rules,” the Works Minister told reporters after opening a seminar on Family Health and Safety in Indoor Environment yesterday.

Samy Vellu was commenting on a report that Universiti Sains Malaysia was in the midst of completing two studies that would help our highways to be more “Malaysian”.

The university’s acting dean of the Engineering Innovation and Technology Development unit Asso Prof Dr Ahmad Farhan Mohd Sadullah said Malaysian roads and highways had been designed according to British standards, which failed to take into account that more than 50% of road users here are motorcyclists.

“Why do they want separate highways for motorcyclists? Who has the money to construct them? Even that can’t stop motorcyclists from beating the red light or riding against one-way streets,” Samy Vellu responded.

Earlier, in his speech, Samy Vellu said indoor air quality was being seriously looked into in the construction of government buildings.

“In the past, there was no check on indoor air quality but we will start conducting checks soon,” he said.


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Samy Vellu peeved over ‘Malaysian’ road study

By Jason Gerald

Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu, peeved by a Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) study which says local roads are not Malaysian enough and so contributed to the large number of accidents, said studies will not help reduce accidents. The Works Minister said to reduce accidents, the attitude of motorists must change. He said a change in the mentality and attitude of Malaysian motorists was essential, especially among motorcyclists who are known for their "suicidal acts".

Samy Vellu said enforcement to book reckless drivers and riders must also be upgraded.

He said the Government has forked out RM130 million to put up motorcycle lanes on every major highway but it has not prevented motorcyclists from killing themselves by breaking traffic rules and regulations.

"We can only build (highways) but we are not the authority to monitor and enforce the laws on motorists, especially motorcyclists who do not abide by them."

Samy Vellu was commenting on a report that USM was in the midst of completing two studies that will help make highways more "Malaysian".

The report said the current design of highways were in accordance with British standards and failed to take into account that more than 50 per cent of road users in the country are motorcyclists.

Samy Vellu said: "Let them come up with a new standard which is different from the world standard and the Ministry would look at it.

"We are not the only country building highways according to British standards, the whole world does. Here it is not classified as British standards but as Malaysian standards.

"What do they want to do for the motorcyclists ... build a separate highway? Who has the money for this?

"Even if we build a separate highway for motorcyclists, it would not stop them from ‘committing suicide’ as they would be going much faster, knocking and killing themselves.

"The mentality and attitude change has to be brought in," he said after launching the Indoor Air Quality seminar themed Family Health and Safety in Indoor Environment at his Ministry today.

"There is something seriously wrong with Malaysian motorcyclists."

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