マレーシア・ニュース

ローリージャックに自衛策

クライ：近頃、南北ハイウェイで多発するローリージャックに対し、ドライバーは自衛の策を講じている。事件が多発しているのは、ジョホールのクライ−パゴー間、マラッカのアヤール・ケローだ。運転手たちはノンストップで目的地を目指したり、自衛の武器（スクリュードライバーや鉄の棒など）を準備したりしている。中にはＧＰＳシステムを車に搭載している者もいるという。特に貴重品などを運搬するトラック（ローリー）が夜間に狙われているそうだ。クライの休憩所でインタビューに応じたハズミ・アハマッドさん（３０）は午後11時から午前4時が最も狙われやすい時間帯だと話しており、いつ自分が狙われるのではないかと心配している。一方、別のドライバー、ザヒル・ヤコブさん（３６）はハイジャックをそれほど心配していない。理由を尋ねたところ、「私には神がついているから大丈夫だよ」と楽観的だ。そんな彼もドライバー歴１８年。サイドシートにはしっかりスクリュードライバーを準備していた。ハイジャックが続発しているパゴーやクライ、アヤー・ケローは安全に対する配慮が全くなされておらず、高速道路運営会社へ安全面での対策を求める声が相次いでいる。

　　自衛のための鉄の棒を見せてくれた運転手

無断転載はお断りいたします

[ 4月3日　2：15　MCS]

ニュース・ソース

Lorry drivers take steps to deter hijackers

KULAI: Lorry drivers are taking their own measures to protect themselves against highway robbers, especially when carrying valuable cargo over long distances.

Some of them admit to carrying small weapons like screwdrivers and iron rods for protection, and having a co-driver to stay on guard if they needed a nap.

Other methods include installing GPS systems in their lorries and driving non-stop to their destination if they carry valuable cargo at night.

These measures are becoming necessary given the increasing occurrences of hijackings at rest stops along the North-South Expressway, especially in Kulai and Pagoh in Johor, and Ayer Keroh in Malacca.

When met at the Kulai rest stop, lorry driver Hazmi Ahmad, 30, said that it was most dangerous between 11pm to 4am as that was when most of the hijackings occurred.

For protection: Che Din Abu, 54, showing the iron rod he keeps with him in the cab of his lorry. The rod is primarily used to prise open the fencing of the lorry, but Che Din said it would also double up as a weapon if he was attacked by hijackers.
”Kadang-kadang jantung tak tentu arah kerana takut (Sometimes, my heart beat is erratic from fear),” he said of the risk involved in transporting valuable cargo.

Another lorry driver, Zahir Yacob, 36, said he was not afraid of hijackers, as he believed he had God watching over him.

But when pressed if he carried a weapon, Zahir, who has been a lorry driver for 18 years, admitted to having a screwdriver by his side at all times in case he is attacked.

Pan Malaysian Lorry Owners Association president Er Sui See described security on the highway as “horrible” and said that hijackings were now more rampant.

According to him, among the notorious stops were Pagoh, Kulai and Ayer Keroh.

“There is no security at all at the rest stops along the highway. Security should be the responsibility of highway operators because they collect toll from us,” he said.

Er suggested that rest stop entry and exit points be fitted with closed-circuit television cameras and police beat bases be set up at every rest stop, adding that more lights should also be installed in dark spots.

PLUS Expressways Bhd corporate communication general manager Khalilah Mohd Talha said PLUS would hold discussions with police and the Malaysian Highway Authorities soon regarding safety on the highways.

Johor Baru (North) OCPD Asst Comm Ruslan Hassan said Kulai already had five hijackings reported since January, compared with seven reported in 2006.

“We have sent patrol cars to the Kulai rest stop in the last two weeks to increase police presence in the area,” he said.

ACP Ruslan, however, cautioned lorry drivers from resisting attacks by hijackers.

Muar OCPD Asst Comm Mohd Nizar Mohd Ali also said he had received several reports of hijackings in Pagoh since he took over four months ago.

“I would not advise the lorry drivers to take the law into their own hands,” he said but encouraged them to always be alert.

.

.<2-4-2007 THE STAR>