Youths make up majority of road accident deaths, says Zahid
KUALA LUMPUR: Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has expressed concern over the high number of road accident fatalities involving youths.
Zahid said the situation called for urgent and coordinated intervention from youth groups, the government, and the private sector.
"On average, 6,000 people die in road accidents each year. Ninety per cent of those who perish are youths," he said at the closing ceremony of the Federal Territories-level 2025 National Youth Day celebration here last night.
Zahid, who also chairs the Cabinet Committee on Road Safety and Congestion, illustrated the scale of the tragedy by comparing it to six football fields filled with graves, each field representing 1,000 lives lost.
"We must prevent this from continuing, as we are losing a vital part of our productive workforce. This must be stopped," he said.
He urged the Malaysian Youth Council and state-level youth councils, including those in the Federal Territories, to take proactive measures.
"Organise special courses for young motorcyclists, covering road safety and motorcycle maintenance," he said, adding that Majlis Amanah Rakyat (Mara) had the capacity to support such efforts.
"In this situation, we must not act in silos.
"We must work together with ministries, departments, agencies, the private sector, and non-governmental organisations," he added.
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