 |
| KH. M. Zaini Na'im |
Cleric Zaini Naim, the head of the Samarinda, East Kalimantan, chapter of the MUI, released a statement on Thursday recommending that the MUI issue a fatwa (an official edict) declaring speed bumps haram (forbidden) or makruh (not recommended).
“Prophet Muhammad once said if someone saw a rock on the street that could harm another road users, it is their obligation to get rid of that rock and any other obstacle on that street to make it more convenient for another users to pass the street,” he said.
The Samarinda office made the recommendation after receiving numerous complaints from the public, Zaini said. While the speed bumps were originally placed in narrow alleys to prevent speeding, they often are the cause of accidents and damage motorists' vehicles, he said.
The police should instead tell people not to speed, Zaini explained.
“If the streets were properly constructed, they wouldn’t need speed bumps,” he said. “If the government wants to prevent people from speeding, they should make an announcement or a suggestion instead of putting out obstacles that endanger people’s lives.”
The MUI is considering whether to issue a fatwa, Zaini said.
Fatwas issued by the MUI are not legally binding but are considered to be strong moral guidance for the country’s large Muslim population.
Reports find that speed bumps rack up thousands of dollars in medical and auto repair bills-- causing both damage to people's backs and their cars.
In Ghana, the medical director at a regional hospital urged the Ghana Highway Authority to remove all speed bumps as they were more likely to cause accidents than to prevent them.
In Montreal, firefighters expressed concern at the number of speed bumps that had appeared in some areas of the city-- prohibiting emergency vehicles from being able to get from one place to another.
Though a religious edict may be overkill, it seems that speed bumps may need to go.
Tidak ada komentar:
Posting Komentar