14-year-old Malaysian ‘driver’ causes fatal crash: One dead, one injured

MALAYSIA: A tragic accident occurred on Sunday (22 Oct), in Jalan Kuala Kedah, resulting in the death of a woman.

The incident unfolded when a car, driven by a 14-year-old girl, collided with a motorcycle, claiming the life of Nur Shafiqah Abdullah, a 32-year-old victim, and injuring her sister, Nooraliza Abdullah, 43 year-old, who was riding pillion. Both victims were residents of Kampung Ulu, Kuala Kedah.

Kota Setar District Acting Chief of Police, Superintendent Syed Basri Syed Ali, said that the accident took place near a petrol station as the two sisters were travelling on their motorcycle from the Taman Bersatu traffic light towards Kuala Kedah.

Meanwhile, the Proton Satria driven by the underage girl was approaching from the opposite direction.

Tragically, it seems the car’s driver lost control, causing it to overturn and collide with the motorcycle, leading to the fatality. Notably, the road conditions were wet and slippery due to rain at the time of the incident.

The teenager driving the car suffered only a minor injury, a cut on the nose, and was found to be without a driver’s license, as well as being absent from school.

The car was reportedly owned by a friend of the teenager’s mother, who received a summons for allowing a minor to drive.

Nur Syafiqah Abdullah’s body was sent to the Forensic Department of Sultanah Bahiyah Hospital (HSB) for further action, and the incident is under investigation pursuant to Section 41(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987 for dangerous driving.

Social media users hold parents responsible for permitting their child to operate the vehicle

The incident was brought to the public’s attention on social media X by the user nanmanjoi8715 on Monday (23 Oct).

https://twitter.com/nanmanjoi8715/status/1716284662585442368?t=nF3v_Z7EKi2f3tAmwgn20g&s=19

The video footage captured a significant number of onlookers at the accident site, and the associated tweet garnered a remarkable 259 thousand views, sparking outrage reactions from netizens.

Some netizens expressed bewilderment regarding how a 14-year-old was allowed by their parents to operate the car.

Other netizens placed blame on the parents, asserting that they should bear responsibility for allowing their child to drive in the first place.

However, some netizens placed blame on the youngsters, suggesting that a 14-year-old could potentially gain unauthorized access to keys and engage in misconduct, as some adolescents may rebel despite parental prohibitions.

Minimum age criteria for acquiring a driver’s license in Malaysia

This incident also highlights the importance of adhering to age requirements for obtaining a driver’s license in Malaysia, which vary depending on the type of vehicle.

According to the Malaysian Road Transport Department (JPJ), the eligibility for obtaining a driving license depends on the type of vehicle.

To legally operate a class A (disabled vehicle) or B, B1&B2 (motorcycle), individuals must be at least 16 years old.

For D and DA class (car), the minimum age requirement is 17 years.

The E class (Lorry) license necessitates a minimum age of 21 and prior possession of a CDL D class.

Furthermore, for Public Service Vehicle (PSV) class licenses, age requirements differ: 18 years old for conductor, 21 years old and possession of a CDL E class for bus, and 21 years old and possession of a CDL D class for taxi drivers.

CDL or competent driving licenses are typically granted two years after the provisional period, while provisional driving licenses (PDL) are issued to new drivers who have successfully completed all learning procedures and tests.

These regulations ensure that individuals are appropriately trained and experienced before operating specific vehicle types on the road.