Man Who Blocked Yang di-Pertua Of Sarawak’s Escort Jailed For 12 Days And Fined RM10,000
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When do you feel like giving way to another motorist during a busy day?
Well, when you’re happy, of course, and also when you hear the siren of any emergency vehicle (ambulance, fire brigade, or police vehicle).
What about VIPs escorted by the police?
Recently, police arrested a maintenance company employee who had refused to give way to Yang di-Pertua Of Sarawak’s escort before driving off in a hurry.
After four days of remand, he was sentenced to 12 days and fined RM10,000 by two Magistrate Courts today.
He was convicted for obstructing the duties of a policeman who accompanied the convoy and recklessly and dangerously driving on the Sultan Iskandar Highway.
Facing The Music
Harian Metro reported that Magistrate Aina Azahra Arifin sentenced Erdy Errwan Hamdan, 36, to seven days in jail and a fine of RM3,000.
Errwan pleaded guilty to obstructing Lance Corporal Mohd Azwar Iqbal Chinang from carrying out his official duties to accompany the Yang di-Pertua Of Sarawak.
The prosecution was filed under Section 186 of the Penal Code which carries a maximum jail term of two years or a maximum fine of RM10,000 or both.
Meanwhile, Magistrate Amanina Mohamad Anuar sentenced him to five days in jail and a fine of RM7,000 and disqualified him from holding or obtaining a driving license for not less than five years.
He admitted to driving a yellow Honda Civic in a reckless manner and being dangerous to himself and road users at 10 pm at the same location and date.
Obey The Law
The offence is charged under Section 42 (1) of the Road Transport Act 1987 and is punishable by the same act, which carries a maximum jail term of five years.
It also carries a fine of not less than RM5,000 and a maximum of RM15,000 as well as disqualification from holding or obtaining a driving license for not less than five years.
Aina Azahra ordered the accused to serve the seven-day jail sentence starting from the date of arrest on 7 May or be jailed for three months if he failed to pay the fine.
Meanwhile, Amanina ordered the five-day jail sentence, effective today or jailed for five months if the fine is not paid.
Earlier, Deputy Public Prosecutor Nurilya Ellyna Norazman and Prosecuting Officer Inspector Abdullah Khazali applied for appropriate punishment to teach a lesson to the accused and the community.
Asking For Leniency
Errwan, who was not represented by a lawyer, appealed for a light sentence.
He earns RM1,600 to RM1,700 and has to support his wife and two children, aged six and three respectively, apart from his new father who died.
According to the facts of the case, on the day of the incident, during a convoy escorted by policemen through the Sultan Iskandar Highway to the Jalan Tunku Abdul Halim exit, a Honda Civic from the rear was driven recklessly in the left lane of the road causing a shift with another vehicle.
Based on 0.53-minute dashboard camera footage, the Honda Civic was moving fast and overtook the convoy through the emergency lane on the left side of the road and ignored the signal by the escort to exit the convoy route.
Spotlight On The Functions Of Police Escort
The case is certainly not the first.
In the past, motorists had been fined for obstructing police outriders and hindering the progress of VIP motorcades.
But recently, the issue of the public and even ambulances being forced to give way to VVIPs had drawn much attention, thanks largely to social media.
Not only do the VIP escorts create a sense of unfairness, there had been accidents as a result.
Ya Allah. Naseb baik takda yg terhumban keluar. Ada budak tak dlm kereta tu? Eeee geramnyaa harap depa saman polis escort yg tahan tu. Petik nama vip bebal tu skali. Apa punya buta perut betui. Dah abis gah la tu ada polis dok escort. https://t.co/WNqQqJ2CQP
— suhanasidek (@SueAnna3) February 4, 2022
READ MORE: [Watch] While Trying To Give Way To VIP, Two Cars Got Into An Accident
Such incidents put the police in a tight spot and gave them a bad name.
READ MORE: No Orders Given To Escort VIPs Son, Says Penang Police Chief
Ni paling bulsit.
— Karl Park Adamz (@CarlPark_Adamz) May 8, 2022
Aku memang paling tak suka service escort vip ke apa walaupun polis benarkan benda tu (boleh dapat duit kot). Jadah gila. Kereta tengah jem. Kau nak menyelit juga. Kaya sangat naik helicopter la jimbet. https://t.co/jYmLSl7fL4
Many said there is a need to re-examine the VIP traffic protocol which is quite annoying to the public.
The latest incident is no exception, drawing criticism from the public.
Halang VIP potong Q waktu sesak jalanraya pun polis nak dakwa? Come on la. Bukan bercalar pun kereta VIP tu. Yang mengada-ngada berjalan waktu sesak lepas tu nak guna escort tu kenapa? Beratur la macam orang lain. Tak mati pun kalau VIP beratur…
— khalid Ismath (@khalidismath) May 10, 2022
Beacons Of Hope
Thankfully, some VIPs lead by good examples, such as Johor Crown Prince Tunku Ismail Ibni Sultan Ibrahim.
The public lauded the action of Tunku Ismail’s convoy for giving way to an ambulance.
@majoritiofficial TMJ arahkan polis pengiring untuk memberikan laluan kepada ambulans. Semoga dapat menjadi contoh kepada yang lain. #polispengiring #berilaluan#tmj #tular #ambulans ♬ original sound – majoritiofficial – Majoriti Official
The Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah had also been leading by example.
In March, three traffic police motorcycle outriders escorting the King helped to usher an ambulance en route to the National Heart Institute in Kuala Lumpur.
The ambulance, operated by prominent social activist Kuan Chee Heng, was on its way from Section 14 in Petaling Jaya to the National Heart Institute (IJN) in Kuala Lumpur.
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