THE recent tragic accident that claimed the lives of nine Federal Reserve Unit (FRU) policemen has led to plenty of public outcry, including the call for Transport Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook to “step down with honour”.
These range from Loke’s ineptitude to claims that successive governments only act when a VVIP is involved in a mishap.
Henceforth, the latest news that the Transport Ministry (MOT) will set up a special task force to investigate the fatal crash has not gone down well with certain netizens.
PTD ramai kat ministry tak boleh fikirkan ke????? Kenapa kena set up a jawatankuasa?!!!!! https://t.co/mYdflP2yq5
— Ikhwan (@JatIkhwan) May 13, 2025
One of them being legal eagle Ikhwan (@JatIkhwan) who quite simply asked why the multitudes of administrative officers within the MOT could not fulfil such task.
That they lack the requisite brain cells to conduct the necessary investigation was the clear insinuation.
Ikhwan’s sentiments were shared by quite a few netizens who could not hide their dismay. One surmised that by the time the task force concludes its findings, the next tragic accident would have already occurred.
Another commenter called upon @Grok – the artificial intelligence (AI)-driven chatbot developed by Elon Musk’s xAI – to provide an estimate on the amount of taxpayers’ funds needed to pay administrative officers at the MOT.
It was revealed that the Malaysian government expects a direct tax collection of RM188.8 bil in 2025, including individual income tax.
“Part of this tax is used for civil servant salaries, including administrative and diplomatic officers (PTD) under the operating expenses of RM335 bil,” shared @Grok. “However, it’s difficult to ascertain an exact figure because the budget allocation is not broken down specifically for salaries of PTD officers.”
A waste of time and public funds was an oft-repeated comment with the PTDs at the MOT branded as useless.
The reactive nature of the response was met with dismay by one netizen. To react when the accident has already occurred was not good enough, he lamented.
A few insinuated that this task force was just an attempt at a cover up, possibly involving illegal lorries ferrying loads from illegal quarries (the lorry was transporting a load of gravel when it collided with the ill-fated FRU truck).
One commenter fumed that the entire process stinks of bureaucracy with “Malaysia’s answer to every crisis being the setting up of a new committee”. When will accountability ever take precedence, he wondered.
A few sarcastically commented that the highly paid PTDs were not to be disturbed from their leisurely pursuits. The real work was for those in the lower pay brackets.
With one not mincing his words on what he thought of these civil servants – “most useless government officials”.
However, some defended the setting up of this task force, arguing that it had a very specific goal in mind.
Majority of the comment, though, were less than kind. It would appear that Malaysians are just plain fed-up with the never-ending list of committees and task forces set up whenever a matter of public concern arises.
The perception is that it is a time buying move with no real solutions offered at the end of the day, except to dilute responsibility.
Will this ever change? – May 15, 2025
Main image credit: Polis Diraja Malaysia (Royal Malaysia Police)/Facebook
