KUCHING: Bandar Kuching MP Dr Kelvin Yii has called for a review of standard operating procedures (SOPs) and protocols for VVIP (very very important person) escorts on the road.
He stressed there has to be clearer and safer protocols when it comes to traffic control involving VVIP escorts and entourage to ensure the public are not put in danger just because they are made to give priority to these VVIPs.
“This is in view of the very unfortunate accident involving two cars that happened outside Hornbill Skyways allegedly involving (the VVIP’s) entourage.
“The traffic police on duty should have done a better job of controlling traffic to ensure safety and more importantly to directly tend to the safety of the accident victims first before even allowing the VVIP entourage to continue passing,” he said in a Facebook post on Sunday (Feb 6).
He said it was fortunate that only two cars were involved and no one was seriously hurt, and the incident happened during non-peak hours, if not it may have been worse or caused even more traffic congestion.
“The least the VVIP could have done was to come out or get his protocol personnel to check on the situation and take the necessary information, show concern and then get it sorted.
“But in this incident, it’s truly shocking when every single car in the motorcade just drove off giving the perception that the public’s safety is not a concern,” he said.
As such, Dr Yii stressed that such practices must be seriously looked into and in need of reforms.
“This is also in view of recent incidents where emergency ambulances were even made to give way to these VVIP escorts even though it risked endangering the lives of those in the ambulance.
“Regardless of their status, the safety and security of those around them must also be a priority to not show a difference in class or double standards in treatment of different people,” he said.
On top of that, Dr Yii also called for the ‘dangerous’ small exit at Jalan Lapangan Terbang to be removed.
“This is because it is too short a distance for cars coming from the opposite direction to slow down to give way to any outgoing vehicles using that exit.
“Safety and security of all must be prioritised and they should not allow such shortcuts that will endanger the public at large,” he said.
