Gerik police chief Zulkifli Mahmood said he could not confirm whether the encounter shown in the video had in fact occurred on the East-West Highway, as no report had been made about the incident.

However, he advised road users on the highway to keep a safe distance if they encounter elephants on the road, and avoid provoking the animals, Bernama reported.

“If they encounter elephants, the following steps should be taken: stop the vehicle, allow the elephants to pass, avoid honking and refrain from using high-beam lights,” he said today.

“Do not engage in any provocative actions that could put themselves in danger,” he said.

A video clip posted on Saturday showed a small group of elephants approaching a white Perodua Bezza on the highway connecting Gerik to Jeli. Another video earlier this month showed a large elephant approaching a blue car.

However, it was not possible to verify where and when these encounters took place.