Well, except if you're part of the Prime Minister's convoy.
PM's convoy given priority
A 30-second video showing the police halting an ambulance to give way to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob's convoy has gone viral on social media.According to New Straits Times, the incident happened on Sunday (26 December) in Hulu Langat.
In the video, a four-wheel drive vehicle belonging to the Red Crescent Society and an ambulance with its siren on were stopped at a junction by a traffic police to give way to the PM's convoy.
Here's the video:
The short clip raised the ire of netizens, who opined that the ambulance should be given priority as the person inside could be in need of urgent medical attention.
PDRM responds
After the clip went viral on social media, the Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM) has offered an explanation as to why the PM's convoy was given priority.Selangor Traffic Investigation and Enforcement Department (TEID) chief Superintendent Azman Shari'at told NST that the decision was made to "reduce the risk of road accident".
This was in accordance with Rule 9 LN166/1959 of the Road Transport Act 1987, he added.
Supt Azman said TEID personnel were told to always give priority to emergency vehicles ferrying patients, but in this case, the officer-on-duty had decided to stop the ambulance "for a short period of time" as the lead vehicle of the convoy was approaching the junction.
"The incident happened at around 11.30am yesterday when the prime minister's convoy was heading from Taman Sri Nanding to Al-Mustaqqim mosque to look into the cleaning works by various agencies to help flood victims.
"Based on the video, if the traffic officers were to give priority to the two vehicles about to turn to the main road, that will create the risk of accidents and endanger other road users," Supt Azman was quoted as saying in a statement quoted by the daily.
After the convoy passed the junction and making sure that there were no risks of an accident, the traffic officer immediately gave way to the ambulance, Supt Azman said.
Supt Azman reiterated that the police are "always sensitive and committed to giving priority to public interest, particularly when the task involves road users' safety and emergency vehicles such as ambulance and fire engines."