THE Malay proverb “malang tak berbau”, or directly translated into English, “misfortune has no smell” very much described the tragedy that befell a family at Jalan Pekan-Rompin.
Those following the tragic story will know that a lorry rammed into the family’s house in the early Saturday morning, killing a pair of siblings while injuring four others.
According to @MALAYSIAVIRALLL in a post, the driver of the lorry who got away with light injuries, was found positive with drugs, or more specifically methamphetamine.
Inalillahiwainalillahirojiun buat dua beradik yg meninggal dunia dalam kejadian rempuhan treler di Kg. Ketapang Hilir, Pekan awal pagi tadi. Salam Takziah buat seluruh ahli keluarga.
Pemandu treler positif dadah. pic.twitter.com/h534h1Wy48
— MALAYSIA MOST VIRAL (@MALAYSIAVIRALLL) August 3, 2024
According to the National Institute On Drug Abuse, methamphetamine is a powerful, highly addictive stimulant that affects the central nervous system. It takes the form of a white, odourless, bitter-tasting crystalline powder that easily dissolves in water or alcohol.
The substance causes increased activity and talkativeness, decreased appetite, and a pleasurable sense of well-being or euphoria, certainly not something the operator of a heavy vehicle should be taking.
The tweet which has since gone viral with over 2,800 shares was flooded with outrage from netizens, with one netizen heatedly suggesting that drug peddlers should be caught and executed without the need for trial.
Another expressed his concern over the many fatal accidents involving heavy vehicles. Perhaps the authorities should be more discerning when giving out driving licences for such vehicles? Or a background check can be conducted on the applicant before a decision is made.
Netizen @eddienglftc said fortunately, the tragedy did not involve alcohol or it would have been used as political salvos.
But are we going too far by ordering capital punishment to drug users whose actions cause the death of innocents? Then there is the age-old debate of whether it is ethical to hang drug traffickers.
What’s most striking about the tragedy was the fact that it could happen to anyone. The victims were merely doing something as innocent as conducting their daily lives in their very own homes which is supposedly their safe space.
It is the perfect example of being in the wrong place at the wrong time. On the other hand, the culprit raises a strong point on drugs being a substance that not only harms the self, but other innocent lives. – Aug 6, 2024
Main pic credit: X/Malaysia Most Viral
