The public should respect the feelings of family members of the eight teenagers who were killed in a cycling tragedy in Johor Bahru yesterday.

Deputy Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datin Paduka Chew Mei Fun said they should stop blaming the families of the deceased and to give them time to recover from the incident that killed their loved ones.

"The loss of a family member, especially in an accident, is very sad, and we should give them space to heal, and not blame them for what happened.

"The public should stop blaming them and let the police carry out their investigations to determine what really happened," she told reporters after launching an arts exhibition here Sunday.

She was commenting on the tragedy in Johor Bahru, Saturday in which eight cyclists, aged between 13 and 16, were killed when they were mowed down by a car driven by a 22-year-old woman along Jalan Lingkaran Dalam near the Mahmoodiah Muslim cemetery.

Chew, who is also MCA vice-president, advised parents to monitor their children's movement and activities and be aware of what their children are doing when out with their friends.

When questioned whether the ministry saw the incident as negligence on the part of the parents, she said the matter would be determined by the police.

"Whatever the outcome, the Social Welfare Department will do whatever is necessary to ensure the welfare and well-being of the youths," she added. - Bernama