POLICE had to stop an ambulance and a Red Crescent Society four-wheel-drive vehicle to make way for Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob’s convoy in order to ensure the safety of other road users, the Selangor Traffic Investigations and Enforcement Department said. 

The police issued the statement today following backlash from social media users who questioned them for not allowing the ambulance with siren on to move ahead of the convoy. 

Selangor Traffic Investigations and Enforcement Department head Azman Shari’at said it would be a risk to allow the ambulance and the 4WD to move ahead of Ismail’s entourage.  

“As shown in the video clip, had the traffic police allowed the 4WD and ambulance to turn at the junction onto the main road, there would be a risk of an accident and cause danger to other road users,” he said. 

The incident in Hulu Langat, Selangor was captured on video and widely shared online showing the ambulance and the 4WD stopping at a junction to make way for the prime minister. 

“Therefore, the convoy on the main road was given priority to avoid accidents, based on an initial assessment by the traffic police,” Azman said. 

He said the two rescue vehicles were stopped momentarily and immediately given priority after the convoy passed. 

“We had taken the action in accordance with the Road Traffic Rules 1959 and Road Transport Act 1987,” he said. 

“As soon as the convoy ferrying the prime minister passed, we assisted the rescue vehicles and gave them priority to move.” 

The convoy was moving from Taman Sri Nanding to Batu 16, Hulu Langat.

The district was hit by massive floods last weekend. – December 27, 2021.