The use of sirens or warning lights does not give emergency or enforcement vehicles the right to run red lights or compromise the safety of other road users, Malaysian police said Thursday.

Bukit Aman Traffic Investigation and Enforcement Department (JSPT) director Muhammed Hasbullah Ali said all drivers, including those operating government vehicles, remained responsible for ensuring road safety even when responding to emergencies.

“Nobody is above the law,” he said, stressing that drivers of emergency or enforcement vehicles must ensure it is safe to proceed before crossing a traffic-light junction.

He said the same principle had been emphasised during previous engagement sessions with relevant agencies.

Muhammed Hasbullah was speaking to reporters while inspecting the scene of a fatal accident involving a Malaysian Immigration Department (JIM) lorry at the Jalan Sultan Ismail intersection here on Wednesday.

The crash claimed the lives of three members of a family.

On the use of sirens and warning lights, he said any special exemption allowing sirens to be used beyond the permitted list could only be approved by the Transport Minister on the recommendation of the Road Transport Department (JPJ) director-general.

He said the provision was stipulated under Rule 24B(2) of the Motor Vehicles (Construction and Use) Rules 1959 (Amendment 2024).

At the same time, Muhammed Hasbullah urged other road users to remain alert and give way to enforcement and emergency vehicles carrying out official duties.

Under Rule 9 of the Road Traffic Rules 1959, motorists are required to slow down, move to the side or stop to give way when they hear a warning siren or see the special warning beacon of an approaching enforcement or emergency vehicle, he said.

The clarification comes amid renewed attention to road safety following Wednesday’s fatal crash involving the JIM lorry at the Jalan Sultan Ismail intersection.