CM hits a bump for not wearing helmet
THE STAR
MALACCA: A police report has been lodged against Malacca Chief Minister Datuk Seri Idris Haron (pic) for riding a motorcycle without wearing a safety helmet.
The report was made by Low Chee Leong, a 46-year-old special officer to Kota Laksamana DAP assemblyman Lai Kuen Ban, at Tengkera police station at 11.30am, yesterday.
In Low’s report, traffic police were asked to issue a summons to Idris for flouting the law at Tehel on April 22 as well as to Bemban assemblyman Datuk Ng Choon Koon for riding pillion without a helmet.
Idris, when met by The Star, said he did not mind receiving the summons if he had committed the offence.
“But let me remind the person who lodged a police report that the village road at Tehel is not gazetted under the traffic ordinance,” he said.
Idris said he was riding the machine during a visit to the village in Tehel on April 22.
“The village headman asked me to follow an entourage of motorcyclists to a mosque for prayers and I brought along Ng as pillion rider.
“I even asked for safety helmets for me and Ng but because the road is in a village, the headman was reluctant and wanted us to just ride along with others who were not wearing the helmets at that moment,” he said.
Idris said there were a number of policemen who were at the site but because the road was not gazetted, no summonses were issued.
He said he realised now that Opposition leaders were keeping track of his movements.
“They seem to be watching me and want to get me even for trivial issues.
“They can’t find other major issues in Malacca so even not wearing a helmet is blown out of proportion,” he added.
Meanwhile, Ng dismissed claims that the Chief Minister was riding the machine like a “mat rempit” as too preposterous.
“I just can’t believe that such a nitty-gritty issue warrants a police report,” he said, adding that the Chief Minister just wanted to foster closer relationships with thekampung folk.
