The Malaysian Insight

LIFE is cruel, but social media is even more so, as two families in Penang come to terms with the fatal Penang Bridge accident that claimed the life of a college student.

As one family struggles with the loss of its youngest son, the other has to face public condemnation for their boy who caused the accident and death.

The most popular remark on Facebook against the young man who survived the accident was “go die yourself”.

Other labels pinned on him include “killer”, “murderer”, and “demon”.

“Murderer, you will never get forgiveness!” posted a Celeste See.

The 21-year-old hairstylist had allegedly crashed his Toyota Vios into the Mazda CX5 driven by his former schoolmate Moey Yun Peng, 20, sending the SUV off the Penang Bridge and into the sea.

Both drivers had earlier attended a friend’s birthday party in George Town and were on their way home to the mainland.

Trapped in the SUV, Moey, a college student, drowned in the Sunday morning incident. The SUV and his body were retrieved from the sea yesterday evening.

Since news of the accident broke, the hairstylist’s Facebook page was filled with posts cursing and judging him, even as he was being treated in the hospital.

“Kawan jenis apa ko ni? (What kind of friend are you?)” Eikugnim Hazeif wrote.

Edward CM posted: “If karma doesn’t come to you today, it doesn’t mean you can win over karma. Karma will still hunt you someday, somewhere.”

Liu Yu Yang commented “sampah masyarakat” (“society’s trash”) while several others hurled profanities in English and Chinese at him. The youth is believed to be fluent in Chinese.

Some accused him of showing no remorse while others said he would carry this guilt for causing Moey’s death for the rest of his life.

Many also criticised him earlier for hiding from the authorities over what happened, not knowing that the youth had turned himself in at the Bukit Mertajam police station to assist investigations.

The youth was detained by the police and spent most of the day in the Seberang Prai Tengah district police headquarters until he was released on police bail late this afternoon.

Boey Chin, who wrote in Chinese, said: “At least you still have the conscience to turn yourself in.”

The hairstylist is being investigated under Section 41(1) of the Road Transport Act for causing death by reckless or dangerous driving.

Earlier today, Moey’s family asked social media users to stop speculating about the accident and sharing unpleasant photos of the deceased.

Social media users had also accused the two drivers of speeding on the bridge.

Moey’s family said they left it to the police to investigate the incident and take the appropriate action.

They also told the media that they were not ready to meet the Vios driver or his family over the incident. 

His funeral is tomorrow morning at 10am. His remains will be cremated at the Berapit crematorium in Bukit Mertajam. – January 23, 2019.