Speaking to reporters at the Sultanah Aminah Hospital here today, he said the Education Department required schools to conduct awareness programmes besides reminding students not to be involved in dangerous activities.
“Parents also play an important role in getting rid of modified bicycles their children own before any untoward incidents occur,” he said regarding the accident in which eight teen cyclists were killed after they were mowed down by a car at 3am here today.
Another eight were injured, including two critically in the accident at Jalan Lingkaran Dalam here.
Meanwhile Johor Education deputy director Azman Adnan said the department has provided six counselling and guidance teachers to the families of the eight dead boys.
The six teachers had been sent to hospital to provide advice and moral support to the relatives of the boys, he said.
Meanwhile in GEORGE TOWN, Deputy Women, Family and Community Development Minister Chew Mei Fun said her ministry would also provide counselling services to help family members of the victims cope with the incident.
“We will wait for the investigation by the police before taking any further action and the Welfare Department will cooperate with the police if there is an element of negligence in this case,” she said.
She told reporters this after officiating at the opening of the Global Learning and Training Academy here today.
She said to avoid any such incidents in the future, parents must ensure the safety of their children at all times, especially those still schooling.
The Johor Menteri Besar has also called on parents and all government agencies to make sure accidents – like the one which claimed the lives of eight boys on bicycles today – doesn’t happen again.
In a statement, Mohamed Khaled Nordin voiced his sadness over the accident and offered his condolences to the victims’ families.
“May their souls be placed among those loved by Allah. I hope their families will be patient and strong in this challenging period. I pray that those injured in the accident will recover quickly.”
Johor DAP chairman Liew Chin Tong and Johor Opposition Chief Gan Peck Cheng also offered their condolences to the victims’ families.
In a statement, Kluang MP Liew urged the authorities to speed up investigations into the cause of the accident.
Meanwhile, Gan told FMT that now wasn’t the time for finger pointing.
“We feel very sad that such a tragic accident has happened. After this we need to look at this situation and see how we can avoid a repeat of such accidents.”