PUTRAJAYA, Aug 2 (Bernama) -- Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad extends his condolences to the families of victims who perished in recent road accidents.
He said road accidents are a serious public health challenge and the fifth leading contributor to premature deaths in Malaysia.
In a post on his official Facebook page today, he said based on the Malaysia Road Fatalities Index by the Ministry of Transport (MOT), an average of 18 individuals die in road accidents every day in the country, with 59 per cent of these fatalities involving motorcyclists.
“During weekends when motor enthusiasts gather, emergency rooms in hospitals nationwide are often confronted with a deeply heartbreaking reality.
“Behind the excitement of such events, there are families receiving devastating news, losing their loved ones due to accidents,” he said.
Dzulkefly said from another perspective, whenever there is a surge in accident cases, the entire hospital system, from blood supply, imaging equipment and operating theatres to multidisciplinary specialists, must be mobilised and redeployed.
“This is the reality of our healthcare system, where one per cent of the Ministry of Health (MOH) workforce shoulders the responsibility of managing 99 per cent of Malaysia’s population,” he added.
In the same post, he also prayed that the grieving families be granted strength in facing the ordeal, and expressed appreciation to MOH’s multidisciplinary emergency and trauma teams who work tirelessly to treat and save road accident victims.
Dzulkefly said the impact of road accidents is not only felt by victims’ families, but also has a significant effect on the country’s economy.
“Based on the Value of Statistical Life, the government incurs losses of at least RM3.12 million for every life lost. This is not merely a figure, but represents heads of families, promising youths and productive human capital lost in an instant,” he said.
At the same time, he said while he supports the spirit of camaraderie underpinning large-scale motorcycle convoys, the recurring fatal accidents from the first edition up to the recent RXZ Members 8.0 gathering are deeply concerning.
He said it is the organisers’ duty to ensure the participants’ safety and make road safety advocacy a compulsory agenda in every event, to prevent fatalities caused by excessive speed.
“Medical facilities and resources can be replenished, but lives lost can never be replaced. It is time for us to change the extreme mindset on the roads and embrace a new slogan of moderation and safety, ‘Yang Santai, Pasti Sampai’ (Take It Easy, You’ll Get There Safely),” he said.
He added that the slogan is crucial in emphasising responsible riding, adherence to speed limits and the goal of zero accidents, with the preservation of life as the utmost priority.
It was previously reported that several accidents involved participants travelling to the RXZ Members 8.0 gathering at the Gong Badak Motor Racing Circuit in Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, as well as other road users.
Three motorcyclists were killed and two injured in four separate accidents in Pahang, while in Kuala Nerus, a 13-year-old boy suffered 60 per cent burn injuries and is currently in an induced coma.
-- BERNAMA