On 18 February 2017 at 3:20 a.m., Sam Ke Ting was driving back home. She was driving on the far-left lane, wearing a seatbelt and not using a smartphone. There is no warning on what was about to happen next.
She was driving in the wee hours of that fateful morning and had rammed into a group of teen cyclists on modified bicycles (basikal lajak). Eight of whom lost their lives from this accident.
Five years later, Sam Ke Ting was charged for this tragic incident. The 27-year-old was sentenced to six years in jail and fined RM6,000 for reckless driving that caused the deaths of eight teenagers.
It is a hot topic that has been going on for days. As a result of this incident, Malaysians are divided with most of us raising concerns of child negligence amongst parents. One can’t help but wonder: what kind of a parent would allow their children to be out on the highway at 3 a.m.?
Questions have been raised by many. Some have come for the authorities to take a more drastic approach including charging the parents in court for negligence. One can’t also help but wonder, how does this happen to Sam Ke Ting despite wearing a seatbelt and not using her smartphone while driving. Was she driving really fast at that time?
The Internet is flooded with unnecessary comments and blames to either party involved in this case. Social media sensation Khairul Abdullah shared his two cents on his Facebook account. It was somewhat a ‘relief’ as he explains what it may feel like being in their shoes, both the driver and teenagers involved.
This is what this SuperDaddy has to say about this incident on his Facebook account. Unbiased, thoughtful and recognising all parties involved. Here’s the full post translated to English:
How sad and traumatised parents can become when their child is crushed to death by a car. The trauma of losing a child will be carried for a lifetime. It’s not just the trauma, but also to carry its burden and the endless guilt.
What ifs…
If I would have known that my son went out that night, I would have called him back right away. If I knew my son was endangering himself playing on the streets, I would have done this or that. If I knew what this modified bicycle was like, I would have done this or that.
In addition to grief, this is a burden of trauma that will also be borne for a lifetime. That is the punishment incurred as a result of negligence in paying attention to children.
However, what about the burden of the trauma of a human being who accidentally killed eight innocent lives with no intention of doing so? Just an ordinary girl who wants to go home but she then becomes a ‘killer’ by this accident?
Drivers who hit an object or striking something on the road is considered an at-fault collision and will be left feeling guilty. Let alone accidentally killing eight lives.
Sam is already feeling devastated from this tragedy but her life isn’t going to be easy by carrying this guilt when she is sentenced to prison.
She is going to prison with plenty of thoughts, wishing if she could have done things differently or turn back time.
She may have made a mistake coming back home late that night. Could she have taken another route to go home? How fast was she driving that night? She could have slowed down or put on the brakes in time. But, was she driving ‘that’ fast?
Maybe she could have ridden a motorcycle because if she hit the children, they may not die tragically. She may not even injure herself. Or maybe she could have gone back home earlier without bumping into these children and crushing them.
The amount of pain these children suffered is unimaginable. No one knows what that feels like. Sam is going to suffer from the punishment and its consequences for the rest of her life.
Both parties are already devastated from the burden of prolonged trauma.
Everyone is at fault, both parties are equally wrong. From families, communities, local authorities and even the government. All of us are to blame.
Where is our responsibility as parents in educating and caring for the health, welfare and safety of our children?
Where is our responsibility as neighbours and members of the community in ensuring the safety of our children? Is there an area for these children to play with enough safety measures provided? Can we do something about it?
What is the government doing, as lawmakers, in ensuring the safety of the citizens? Is there a specific area for children to carry out recreational activities that they can go to?
Where is the responsibility of law enforcers in taking action against all activities that endanger the lives of ourselves as well as others?
Where is our responsibility as drivers in making sure that driving is safe for all and being on the same road?
All parties are to blame.
But the changes that one can only hope for starts from us. We have a lot to learn from this tragic incident and improve upon ourselves.
We have to start educating ourselves and our children on what we need to do when being on the road.
Both parties have to.
We just need to focus.
No matter how difficult it is in life, no matter how challenging it is, we have to focus on educating our children. It must be taken care of, it must be taken into accountability, it must be made sure that the children are always safe. That is the trust and responsibility the children need.
No matter how skilled one may be when driving, even if you have a driver’s license of 35 years old, even if you are an expert at driving, you still have to focus. No more reckless driving to ensure personal safety, no more using smartphones while driving, always wear a seatbelt, make sure the car is in good condition, make sure the brakes are working well, and drive carefully, especially in the city.
However, even if everything is in place, things could still go wrong despite doing and giving our best. So, we have to accept fate.
We are unable to undo the things that have happened. But we learn our lessons to reflect our actions in the near future.
May both parties get the justice they deserve.
Khairul Abdullah
#superdaddy
Khairul Abdullah is right. Even if everything is in place, things could still go wrong. Battling emotions from the loss of these lives aren’t going to be easy on the children’s families including Sam as the driver.
But even if justice is ‘served’ and Sam is proven to be guilty, neither party will be relieved nor thankful when looking back on this case years from now.
This horrifying incident is a reminder for all parents. Parents need to realise the seriousness of the stakes of this case instead of pouring irrational thoughts on social media. Negligence and reckless driving are a deadly combination. An accident leading up to a tragedy like this should not happen especially when taking every reasonable safety precaution. May an incident like this nightmare never occur again.
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