Police officers are seen waiting for unsuspecting motorists at Jalan Permaisuri.
MIRI: While it is lauded that the law enforcers are doing their job well it is also not wrong to point out that the police conducting spot checks at dangerous locations is more harmful to the road users.
Pujut assemblyman Alan Ling Sie Kiong said dangerous corners in the city such as the bus stop at Jalan Permaisuri was among the favourite spots for traffic police to spring a trap for unsuspecting road users.
“I have received a number of complaints from motorists on this. The spot is quite dangerous not only to motorists but also to the police themselves. The bushes there obstruct the view of motorists coming from the indoor stadium to the city centre,” Ling said while showing photographs of traffic policemen conducting spot checks there recently.
Among other favourite spots are the corner near the court complex, civic centre and China Street.
He said motorists might panic if they saw the presence of the police in front of them.
Accident might happen if they suddenly applied the brakes or while hastily strapping the safety belts.
“One cannot help wondering whether the operations follow guidelines set by the department. I have raised this during the last assembly sittings and I am going to write to Bukit Aman for an explanation.”
Ling also noted that there was no signage put up by the police to notify motorists that there was a spot check in front of them.
He was made to understand that such operation must be approved by senior officers who must also be present during the operation.
“We are not against them doing their work but they must do so following guidelines. The spot check is good to ensure that motorists adhere to every road rule and regulation.”
The assemblyman also said he had raised the issue with the local police chief who then suggested that he took a snap shot of the policemen conducting such operation at dangerous spots.