KUALA LUMPUR: Police deployed to handle traffic control must give priority and way to emergency vehicles such as ambulances and those belonging to the Fire and Rescue Department.
The Home Minister in a parliamentary written reply said this is provided under Rule Nine of the Road Traffic Rules 1959.
"Section 21 of the Police Act 1967 empowers the police to organise, control and divert any traffic including on public roads while executing security escort duties.
"It is according to the level of safety needed such as while escorting dangerous and explosive substances; firearms, prisoners, dignitaries, vaccines and others according to the guidelines as outlined in the SOP (standard operating procedures).
"To ensure the highest level of security, those involved in the escort and traffic control duties will act according to the provisions allocated under Section 21.
"However, policemen involved in handling traffic control must immediately give priority and way to emergency vehicles such as ambulances and those from the Fire and Rescue Department as outlined under Rule Nine of the Road Traffic Rues 1959," said the ministry.
The ministry was responding to RSN Rayer (PH - Jelutong) who asked the Home Minister to state the reason the delegation of the Prime Minister's security escorts and vehicles were given priority instead of an ambulance rushing to transport patients to the hospital.