Sometimes I can’t fathom the ‘small-mindedness’ of anti-Government activists and the sycophants of Pakatan Rakyat. Their prejudice towards any efforts by the government, however good, had made them a bit daft. Simply put, they just can’t think in a rational manner anymore.
Take for example, the effort of the government to curb traffic offenders as posted below:
Government wants to raise traffic fines to RM2,000
KUALA LUMPUR, June 25 — A hefty fine of up to RM2,000 awaits traffic offenders including for beating the red light, when amendments to the Road Transport Act 1987 are approved.
The Road Transport (Amendment) Bill 2012 was tabled today at the Dewan Rakyat for the first reading by Deputy Transport Minister Datuk Abd Rahim Bakri.
An amendment to subsection 79(2) was also sought to set the minimum penalty at RM300 and maximum at RM2,000 for motorists or pedestrians who ignore an order or traffic signal by a uniformed policeman or warden on traffic duty. The original act provides for an offender to be fined not more than RM500.
An amendment to subsection 26(2) of the bill is aimed at setting the minimum penalty for driving without a licence at RM300 and increasing the maximum from RM1,000 to RM2,000 and offenders liable to a jail term not exceeding three months, or both.
The proposed fine for speeding, under subsection 40(1) is RM2,000, from the original penalty of not more than RM1,000.
The Bill also included a new definition for an electric bicycle — “[vehicles] which cycles with pedal assistance equipped with an auxiliary electric motor at a maximum continuous rated power of 0.25kW, of which the output is progressively reduced and finally cut off as the vehicle reaches a speed of 25km/h or sooner if the cyclist stops pedalling”.
A new section, 76A, has also been inserted in the Bill, which gives road users the liberty to make a left turn at the traffic junction provided it was safe to do so. — Bernama
In August 2009, I posted an article; Road Fatalities – Do We Even Care About Our Loved Ones? Nothing much has changed since then.
With increasing number of road accidents and fatalities in our Malaysian roads, the relevant authorities had no choice but to instil further deterrents to traffic crimes with the hopes that the public in general will become more disciplined when using our roads.
As the statistics shown, there are more than 6,000 deaths per year and over 400,000 road accidents occurring just in 2010; and this figure is rising at an alarming rate.
The new act will definitely help reduce these fatalities IF the people obey the traffic rules and laws. Traffic offenders are a nuisance to society and any effort to reduce the number of traffic offenders should be greatly welcomed.
Imagine a world without people double parking blatantly. Imagine crossing the road peacefully without any drunk drivers that could accidentally run over you and your family. Imagine driving around town without getting hit by a teenager without any driving licence. Imagine a city without dangerous ‘mat-rempits’ racing on the roads.
These are traffic criminals that must be penalised or punished with severe penalties.
But I am surprised that some of us chose to defend these traffic offenders and shift the blame to the police officers!
For instance, the comment by Peter which received the highest number of likes (99 so far) in the article posted above.
Now the happiest people will be those corrupted enforcement officers. Non corrupted ones will join in too. Now everyone will “pay” under counter.
RM2000 for a principle of not giving … no it wont work . All will pay or be bankcrupt lah.
Welcome to Malaysia… especially Singaporeans.
Dont be surprised… the collections for the govt will drop by 1/2 because all “fear” the max RM2000 or go to jail.
Stupidity knows no bounds.
Logically, if people do not break the traffic rules, there is no need for the police to summon them. This is as simple as it goes. If you break the law, then you must be penalised. Why do you have to resort to pay ‘under the counter’ to the police?
If you do not wear seat belts, is that the fault of the police? Why do you need to bribe the police to get away with it and then blame the police for it?
Bribery starts from the giver.
Let people be responsible for their actions.
So you do not want to wear seat belts or want to drive at 180km/h on a 110km/h highway. That is your own volition. But if you get caught by the police, please do not kick a fuss or trying to offer a way out by sheepishly saying “tak boleh settle sini ke Encik’?
I for one, am supporting this effort to increase the amount of fine for traffic offenders. These ‘criminals’ are no different from other type of criminals. Worse, their offence could well costs the lives of other people.
We must not emulate some opposition leaders who entice and encourage people to break the laws of this country whenever they want to. The laws are there for a reason. To safeguard the safety of the majority. A responsible government must increase the sense of security of our surroundings and lower our fears when we go out and about doing our business. A secured and healthy psyche of our society will make the nation stronger.
Thus we do not need some people who encourage law breakers and lynching our security forces.
It is really sickening when people could not see who the bigger culprits are in this traffic offenders vs corrupt police issue. Obviously, if there is no offence, there will be no summons issued at all.
And of course, revenue for the police will be lowered. But this is small price to pay for the possible lower number of deaths and road accidents in this country. But with a stronger and more efficient enforcement on collecting payment for summonses, the collection could be improved.
On a related note, Road Transport Department will test a new system which will encourage traffic offenders to settle their summonses quickly. Every year the government loses millions of ringgit from unsettled summonses by traffic criminals.
I believe the RTD will install traffic cameras and surveillance systems to enable a more efficient ways to catch traffic offenders and get them to pay within a stipulated timeframe. When the offenders know that they could not escape the fine, they will be more disciplined in following the traffic regulations.
In the long run, number of traffic incidences will decrease and the aftermath would be better driving conditions and safer environment for road users and pedestrians in particular.
Which is why, it is amazing that for any effort by the government to curb crimes and save lives, there will be a few cynical people who could not see anything good in any of the efforts thus far. And to make matters worse, they do not provide any other sound solutions as well.
One such example is this:
The RTD is coming up with a new scheme to encourage traffic offenders to settle their fines early. Has this got anything to do with the impending privatisation of the installation and maintenance of hundreds of traffic cameras across the country?
The Edge recently reported the impending privatisation to two obscure local firms, which will be given five-year concessions. The firms will be buying the cameras and other equipment from Germany and Australia.
Under the financial model, the two firms would reportedly be paid a percentage of the fines – but only when the fines are actually paid or collected.
Malaysiakini reported the RTD deputy director-general Ismail Ahmad as saying.
“The concept that we are introducing is that the more you delay, the more you pay, but for offenders who pay quickly, for example within the first two weeks of the compound being issued, they only need to pay RM100.
“But if you delay to within 15 to 30 days, the compound becomes RM150 and if you delay further to 30 to 60 days the compound can become the maximum RM300, depending on the offence,” he said.
He added that an offender will only need to go to court and face the possibility of the maximum fine if they opt for it, fail to pay the compound within 60 days or is a habitual offender where the offence is committed thrice in two months.
Why privatise the traffic cameras in the first place? I suppose the answer to that is obvious.
By all means, if there is proof of corruption in awarding the contract, then get the relevant authorities to investigate and furnish them with the necessary evidence. But please do not shoot down a good idea just because you are biased and prejudiced towards people you do not politically support.
Who knows, our loved ones could be a part of that morbid statistics just because one traffic offender didn’t learn his lessons.
Thank you.
jebatmustdie 
Just do it and no flip-flopping.
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In anger, it sometimes crosses one’s mind that those beating traffic lights, zigzagging to overtake others on the highways should get into an accident and get knocked dead on the spot. But then innocent others may be involved. And may suffer worse than them. Damn.
And those kurang ajar, traffic delinquent buggers are human beings too, are assets of the country in one way or another whatever their jobs may be, although a liability on account of their traffic bad behaviour.
Maybe traffic penalties should include psychiatric evaluation and treatment on impatience like on anger management?
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“the ‘small-mindedness’ of anti-Government activists and the sycophants of Pakatan Rakyat” –
Many times they don’t appear to have a mind at all. Often said to be opposing just for the sake of opposing. Many of those who comment like Peter above hardly think before making their comments. Whatever crosses their mind, they just let it out, without putting it through the thought process. That means not having a mind that will filter out the stupidities and the nonsense that may appear in their brain.
Ingrained with nasty opposition propaganda, it’s become natural for them to see the bad before the good in anything being planned or implemented by the authorities. There are those with the communist kind of propaganda – never mind what you say, so long as you say something bad, some people will in time believe them. This is the danger of democracy and the tools for protecting the populace from such subversives and seditionists must be kept in place – the Sedition Act, the replacement for the Internal Security Act, etc.
But we must keep on hitting them back, admonish them, demolish their arguments, laugh at them as and when relevant. Those putting the blame only on corruption (and only on the takers not the givers), not recognizing the responsibilities of the public towards respecting traffic laws, rules and regulations must be hit hard from time to time.
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What needs to be dealt with urgently are those who make U-turns at traffic lights where I understand no U-Turn is the rule, unless otherwise indicated.
An example is at the junction between Jalan Utara and Jalan Semangat in Petaling Jaya, where people driving up from the Asia Jaya LRT station end make U-Turns at the traffic lights at the Jalan Semangat junction, which delays movement of those wanting to go straight into the other part of Jalan Utara.
Also those driving up Jalan Semangat from the Rothmans end make a U-turn at the junction with Jalan 14/29 near Masjid Bulat. They risk hitting cars turning left from Jalan 14/29 into Jalan Semangat. I nearly collided with a car making a U-turn there once.
On another occassion, I was truning right at the green light on Jalan Gasing, PJ into the road leading to PJ New Town but a car driving fast on the other side of Jalan Gasing beat the red light and nearly slammed into me. It was early in the morning and I could not get his number.
Behaviour on our roads has deteriorated and the police seem unable to do anything about it.
Whatever government is in power, it needs to address this problem urgently.
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I fear there now exists anarchy of sorts. On the roads. Never before has one seen such flagrant violation of traffic offences as occurring these days.
From ignoring traffic lights, ignoring speed limits, overtaking on the wrong lanes, zigzagging to overtake on the highways, to flashing car lights or horn blasting to intimidate others to immediately move away from the rogue driver’s lane, to double parking, blocking others from moving out of authorized parking spaces, rude words when told not to do so, threats to cause trouble if police reports are made, not making Police reports in accidents involving knocking others from behind, ignoring Police notices to provide details of drivers in such cases, denying the right for victims to make third party insurance claims. The list goes on and on.
And I seriously wonder if legislation alone would solve the problem. The causes are deep rooted. It’s in the breakdown of values of society. In respect for authority, for the law, the rules and regulations. The weakening of the moral fibre of society. Traceable to the politics of the country.
People who do not respect the highest set of laws of the country – the Constitution – from which all other laws are derived, are likely not to respect the rights of others, right down to the right to use their part of the road or public parking spaces. Just think, how many of this kind are involved in the traffic offences stated above. The daredevil kind that trample on the right of others, questioning even the inalienable rights of others like during the period of election campaigning in 1969, and became abusive during the election victory parades of 13 May, 1969, are likely to do the same again, and now we are near another general election. Those who think like the communists, that they will fare better when there is chaos and disorder. Plus those who think of an Arab Spring situation like the Bersih 3.0 fellows, wanting to bring down the Government that they have for 55 years been unable to do through general elections held every 4-5 years in this country. Those irresponsible people.
The solution, it seems to me, is a strong and well respected Government and the rakyat must think of that when voting at GE13. There must be a strong Government of responsible people so that whatever is necessary for no-nonsense law enforcement can be made available, and so that the authorities have no qualms or doubts of strict enforcement causing Government unpopularity, e.g
sending special squads to trace and arrest the tens of thousands who have not paid traffic fines or responded to demands for particulars of offending drivers. Otherwise the situation will get worse, and I fear it’ll lead to chaos and disorder. If it does, autocracy of one or the other kind will appear, to bring the situation back to order.
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What utter rubbish. Don’t equate may 13 with the opposition. Instead look into your small stupid mind to see who gained most post 69. I know you’re inherently lazy a d stupid. But try.
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Completely idiotic statement by a fellow who always comes in with Opposition views, very much Opposition style – wild accusation, no substantiation, no justification.
People explain in several paragraphs, this bloke accuses in just 2 sentences. Yet accusing people of laziness. He must be mad.
Alleging 13 May cannot be equated with DAP simply by saying “see who gained most post 69”, without explaining what is meant by that. What a warped mentality, skewed reasoning and no logic.
This kind of a bloke is not only stupid but is also arrogant, hard-headed, anti-history, uncompromising and divisive. Very much the DAP kind.
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“If it does, autocracy of one or the other kind will appear, to bring the situation back to order.”
Well the rot on our roads began under a BN government and continues. In Selangor, I see no change under a Pakatan government but it has gotten worse.
You are right about autocracy appearing. History has shown that it does when society has degenerate to a certain extent. Take Germany in the 1930s for example and Italy.
Well we all know what happened there and the people welcomed it.
I heard this story about how Saddam Hussein dealt with one of his own clansmen, an engineer assigned to construct a road, apparently siphoned off some money resulting in the road being shoddily built.
Saddam drove down the road and suspecting something was wrong, called the engineer over, tied him behind his four by four and dragged him four kilometres down the road behind his vehicle.
Perhaps we need Saddam Hussein to sort this mess out.
Some thieves were caught during Saddam’s time and were hung in public and their bodies left hanging for a month as birds picked away at their flesh, as an example to others.
Look at whose portraits elderly Russians carry in protest against the present government – Gorbachev? Breshnev? Khruschchev? Lenin? No!
They carry portraits of Joseph Stalin whom they lived under and love, while those who did not live under him condemn him.
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I have serious doubts about the privatisation of the installation and maintenance of traffic cameras across the country. Particularly on the basis of payment as a percentage of the fines after the fines are collected.
How are the privatization contractors going to collect from blokes who ignore even Police speeding tickets? Are such fellows not the frequent offenders, the big “revenue generators”? Wasn’t there a huge number of unsettled summons announced by the Police some time back? Despite the “incentives” – discounts, moratarium and what not. And sure, the contractors won’t have Police powers of arrest. Even Police cases of fellows not making Police reports of accidents have apparently not been pursued to the point of arrest. I haven’t read news reports of such cases though I know such abominable criminals exist.
Privatization contractors resorting to the courts to get payments will face a laborious and time consuming process. Car owners may have addresses different from where they live. They may not be driving the cars on the dates and times in question. Collecting a fine of RM1,000 may cost more in legal fees.
I support the call for a more rigorous enforcement by the existing law enforcers, even increasing traffic fines coupled with arresting those not reporting accidents and such serious cases. And educating the public through the TV, Radio etc..
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People like Peter should instead be made to clock in a calculated number of community hours to assist in the rehabilitation of surviving traffic accident victims. No fines involved as money is TOO important to Peter.
The calculation can be based on the amount of monetary fine vis-a-vis his earning power. If he earns $5 per hour and his fine is RM2,000 then he will have to clock in 400 hours of community service to those undergoing physiotherapy.
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“cynical people who could not see anything good in any of the efforts thus far. And to make matters worse, they do not provide any other sound solutions”
Plenty of that around most especially among the “educated”. Complain, complain, complain.. and yet when you ask them what would you do if you are are the one that can make the decision? Errr.. silence. Tong kosong if you ask me. Another favourite past time of this group is bad mouthing Malaysia and Malaysians to foreigners.. forgetting that they are Malaysians too. That’s why now most of regional high-level jobs in MNCs are going to Singaporeans. Bodoh punya Malaysians! Cutting your own nose to spite the face.
Hai bila lah nak sedar.. “Don’t ask what the country can do for you… ask what you can do for the country”.
Ini belum lagi the so-called “pious” group who uses the God’s name in vain to further their worldly desires. Soon keluarlah “fatwa” agaknya saying not paying the fine is wajib/harus coz it is “oppressive”. Takde pulak keluar fatwa ye yg melanggar undang2 jalanraya itu haram.. why? Coz Ustad/Ustazah pun 2×5.. So sickening!
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Those defenders of traffic criminals are members of the Opposition. They are not the dissenting kind, which we can tolerate. But they are blokes who oppose for opposition sake, who we cannot tolerate and must always knock on their heads. Those who will oppose anything and everything done or said by the Establishment. Many of their people are breaking traffic laws themselves.
How can anyone defend criminals? Unless they are criminals or criminal-minded themselves. And there are many of them in the Opposition parties. Those having secret societies, thugs and gangsters in their midst. And red shirted fellows supposedly controlling the Bersih 3.0 crowds but nowhere to be seen when the crowd started to breach Dataran Merdeka on the 28 April demo. And the fellows engaged in hand signals leading to the crowd breaching the prohibited area. One has been established as a criminal with years of stay in Sungai Buluh prison.
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Actually our traffic light having major problem with the setting and not obey the international LAW, the yellow light not follow international standard suppose for 90KM/H = 5 second (now 3) , 60KM/H = 3 seconds (now 2).
the solution is all traffic light must blink for 5 seconds before yellow light on. if this is not follow the international standard they must install LED number that show how many second before yellow.
if all have this particular already install then they can sue to the maximum.
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Thank you for this bit of information. But I seriously cringe to think that all of us are too stupid to know that we need to slow down when approaching traffic lights. Traffic lights are situated in cities where the speed limit is around 60 to 80km/h.
I am sure if we have some common sense, we should never zoom pass a traffic light at an intersection at a speed of 140km/h regardless if the light is on green. That would be unwise.
But reality is, some people now are too spoonfed and unable to think that we need to get that green light to blink before it turns yellow. So that some people will be reminded that it’s wise to slow down when approaching traffic lights. Nevertheless, this is a good system still. Thank you.
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We need hydraulically powered solid steel barrier to rise up from the road to stop vehicles when the light is red.
Law must also be changed so that if a car hits that barrier when it’s up, insurance won’t have to pay to repair the damage.
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Bro,
This time im against the gomen. Y?
If i have money, able to pay 2-3k per month for car(s) not include Ron97. Then no problem. For some yes…
for me, speeding is not the main reason. beating traffic light yes. Now, how many death cause by 120kmj. How many by 150kmj? Why? Proton, FLX, myVi normay range around 120-130. While 140 and above normally conquered by better car. But if both car drive 120kmj. Accident happened. Who will survive? Honda, Lexus, Nissan etc etc.
For me, gomen should start asking proton, produa n other car makers to look into safety. Airbags. Yes, with S. How about, gomen lower thair tax by 10% for each car makers who can provide more airbag, ABS and ESP. Can what?
Another things… If we read http://ondscene.my/ most of the accident because of bikes. And most probably, because some stupid driver park their car in emergency lane, then put nothing behind it. Err… did their car move more than 120kmj? On time, I scream at a stupid driver. He put a cone just 3 meter behind his car. Do you think motorcyclist can brakes 10 meter away if they ride 80kmj? Another thing… I saw i motorcyclist became a superman just because some stupid drive want to change their lane. Yup, during jam. Did he broke speed limit?
There are so many thing to look in other than charging people… Pls stop looking at $$$ first. Because, people will pay the $$$, gomen collect it. And no minister will die bcoz of road accident. Only a normal kancil driver who cant control his car during heavy rain and hit directly onto a bus. No ABS, No ESP, No airbag…
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I have a friend who is from Penang and a strong DAP supporter. When DAP won Penang (not PR but DAP) last general election, he was elated and boast that this will be the end of corruption in Penang.
3 month ago, he was flagged down for speeding when returning from Penang to KL. He told me that he asked the police officer whether “can tolong or not”, and the policeman accepted a RM50 “tolong” money. In the office the next day he commented that the incident showed the behavior of a typical corrupt Malaysian policeman which if DAP is in power will be eradicated……..need I say more?
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You hit the nail on the head, bro. Let’s now continuously hit their heads. Figuratively, that is.
The DAP fellows who cakap tak serupa bikin. And their blind supporters who can’t even see that the DAP blokes cakap tak serupa bikin.
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Biasa la Bro Chinese wisdom, ” Speak Like Malaysian, Act Like Malaysian, Chant Malaysia for Malaysian but Never be one ” . Hantar anak pergi Chinese School , cakap Mandarin kat rumah “Mother Tongue”, dekat shopping Mall cakap bahasa Inggeris. Need more to say ? These are the traits of typical kiasu/kiasi chinese malaysian.
Hardly a surprise right .. …? after all the Non-Bumis still yearn for the return of their British Colonist Master so that they “Non-Bumis” are able to accept their inferior status with aplomb and open heart.
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Portishead is a coastal town in England about 120 miles west of London. The town of 22,000 people experimented with turning its traffic lights off on a major road in September 2009. Despite the traffic chaos, the streets still seemed safe.
http://thecityfix.com/blog/naked-streets-without-traffic-lights-improve-flow-and-safety/
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Let’s try that in Malaysia. Turn off all traffic lights for a week and don’t have any traffic cops direct traffic see what happens.
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Aha. I’ve read of this experiment before. But do consider, Ray, that it is a town of merely 22,000 people. How many of them are on the road at any given time?
Daily, more than 100,000 motorists (not including motorcyclists) inundate Klang Valley. 5 times as many motorist than Portishead.
Judging from the 1 hour plus jam when the traffic light in front of Sunway Giza/Dataran Sunway malfunction, I don’t think this is an option.
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and with all the kiasu/kiasi who wants to be 1st every time, especially on the road this portishead project surely fail in klang valley..
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auldsxool dear
Like they say, belum cuba belum tahu. Tak kenal maka tak cinta.
If traffic lights still result in accidents and recklessness, perhaps this “over-reliance” on technical regimentation should be removed. I said “perhaps”.
Anyway it is just an idea, borne out of a REAL concern for safety on the roads. We are stuck in traffic jams and stuck behind red lights for hours daily. I’m not sure this was meant to be a manifestation of progress. I would rather spend those hours tending to my garden with fresh air to breathe and lovely plants to appreciate.
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It was never totally proven safe but what this scheme does is to instill alertness without the need for traffic lights, much like the roundabout system of the old days. Motorists and pedestrians have to look out for each other and “hopefully” ingrain a sense of consideration for each and every road user.
There are known accidents to pedestrians while they were crossing at the proper zebra crossing even, with the green light in their favour.
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We cannot and must not condone corruption. We acknowledge it exists in Malaysia, as it exists everywhere else on earth. But I’m sick and tired of accusations of corruption by the very bastards who appeared to have brought corruption into this country. Just as they have brought the phenomenon of secret societies, thugs and gangsters. Many of them are DAP. Members and supporters. Accusing traffic Police etc being corrupt when they are the ones corrupt, the ones who initiate the act of corruption by offering bribes. Bloody hell.
Corruption was rife in China even over 2,000 years ago. Lazy Emperors used to rely on the eunuchs (palace servants with their genitals literally cut off to ensure no hanky panky with the Emperor’s hundreds of concubines) – avoiding the formalities of giving audiences to their Ministers – to get reports and give instructions to and from administrators all over the country. The uneducated eunuchs exacted gold from those officials as payment for saying good words to the Emperor. Corruption became a way of life, a culture in China. When the First Emperor Chin Shih Huang DI burnt books and even some professors to ensure China’s history started from him, what historical accounts that were later on collected and re-edited became largely “spurious or corrupt”. There was corruption even in the Chinese records of history and literature. This is said so by a British professor in his book on China.
As corruption was “a way of life” among the Chinese, those who came to this country in the 19th Century brought them along, Because it was “a way of life”, it became a practice perhaps even more than any other aspects of culture. I have not seen any evidence, written or otherwise, of the existence of corruption in Malay society before that, even in the Malay Annals or Sejarah Melayu of the Malacca Kingdom. There can be no denying, therefore, that what corruption the Malays learnt was brought from outside. As the Chinese practised corruption as a way of life, they must have been responsible in spreading it to the local population, and propagating it on a large-scale basis.
Those DAP blokes who shout the loudest on corruption must be told the above each and every time they raise the issue for their political mileage. I also have not seen any research or study showing corruption by race. But I believe those asking for bribes – those in authority, most of whom are Malays and UMNO members or supporters – are very few. But those offering bribes are mostly those who have corruption as a way of life or culture. Particularly the DAP members and supporters. Like said by “layman” above. Order on the roads becomes haywire because those blokes always think they can get away with traffic offences by offering bribes.
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Aiseh, good to see DAP bashing in many comments in here. Malaysia Kino will not even publish anti-DAP and anti-PR comments in their blog, but Jebat allow comments by DAP guys in here.
As they say, never the mind, let them come in and we reply their comments. We democratic for what they call Democratic Action Party guys or supporters. Give them right to speak and we also right to reply. Hope they don’t get scare or what they say will not chicken out. I just say a bit here, a bit there only lah.
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Should not be just bashing DAP, kawan. The fellows who lay on the road with jubah and ketayap, blockiing the Perak Raja Muda’s car’s path also should be bashed.
No doubt different “traffic offence” situation, but same mentality. The jubah and the “biadap” fellows are on the same wave length. DAP Vice President Tunku Aziz blasted Lim Guan Eng “biadap” as he bolted out of the party. Hadi Awang, Nik Aziz etc didn’t apologize for the biadap jubah and ketayap fellows, did they?
Yes, that kind of mentality, no respect for laws etc, has led to the flagrant disregard for traffic rules and regulations. I support the view that we give the Government a strong mandate so that they’ll have no qualms or hesitation on whacking hard on the traffic offenders. Or whacking the authorities responsible for ensuring compliance with traffic rules and regulations.
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Aiseh, if you get the impression that corruption asking bums always Malays, not correct, man. thestar.com today say an assistant superintendent at the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) sentenced to 13 years in prison and fined RM2.275mil for corruption was not a Malay. .
Sessions judge Azhaniz Teh Azman Teh sentenced M. Mohan, 39, for “soliciting RM250,000 from A. Sinnaiah as an inducement not to proceed investigations on him for bribing officials at the National Registration Department and the Immigration Department.”
Not traffic crimes matter but even MACC Asst Superintendent corrupt asking for bribes so how to control traffic crimes? I support people saying vote in a strong government that can wallop the corrupt bastards in the MACC, the Police, the JPJ, etc, etc. No nonsense on traffic criminals, then can less traffic crimes.
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The speeding and terrorizing Singapore number plates and the mad Express bus drivers:
Imagine, you have just overtaken a car, you are on the fast lane at 110 Km/hr tops, no space on the left lane to get into, then suddenly come zooming a bloody Singapore- plated vehicle, with full lights on in day time, almost touching your backside, flashing and flicking the lights on you, then horning. Damn, damn, damn, the bastards. I’ve experienced it quite a few times KL-JB sector of the N-S Highway.
These must be the discarded and frustrated so-called Malaysians who absconded to Singapore but have to visit relatives whatever in this country, whose mentality is the DAP kind, rough, gangster-like, daredevilish, don’t-care-what blokes. Feeling a sense of superiority having absconded the country, although uncertain if they can even become citizens of the Little Red Dot down below. Judging from that kind of character and mental attitude, one seriously wonder whether sooner or later the Singapore authorities would find them unacceptable. Back to Malaysia they would be kicked out. And back to terrorizing on the the roads in this country. I want to shout more damns but it’d be a futile exercise.
The same goes for the driver of the Malaysian Express bus heading to JB the Sunday just over a week ago. About noon time, Air Kroh-Air Hitam stretch. My goodness, the 80/90 Km/hr speed limit was clearly pasted at the back of the bus. But I could not see the “Laporan Anda” phone numbers pasted thereon. The bus went at 110 km/hr for most of that stretch. Overtaking cars and all that went less than that speed. And was’t that a double-decker bus, meaning taller and less balance in emergency breaking situations? I have read many speculating that kind of drivers being the ex-Army also daredevilish kind. Whatever happened to the idea spoken about (and practised?) some years ago of fitting alarms when they exceed their speed limit?
By Golly, as the Filipinos are fond of saying, I’d rather not travel if I have my way. Or travel with a band of body guards carrying bazookas – I won’t use missiles because I won’t be able to see the faces of the blokes being hit to smithereens. But I’m a law abiding citizen. So, back to self-imposed isolation I go, grinning and bearing it. With blood pressure pills on the ready. So friends, let’s get rid of this terrorism on the roads, eh?
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Damn mata sepets and their kerrrupptionn..and imitation goods and prostitutes and opiums..
Why oh why did iSteve Jobs designed his goods in California but assemble them in China. Surely he must have paid high amounts of corruption to do business there.
Let’s boycott all China made goods because they are purely a corruption.
Observer, don’t forget to discard your China made underwear tomorrow and apple iphone if you own one.
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Salam JMD…
I did write up about this in an auto blog early this year. I am re-posting here to share my opinion on why these amendment are inadequate.
This issue has been my biggest concern all this while. Driving on Malaysia roads are like playing Russian Roulette. You don’t know where the ‘bullet’ is coming or when. From my observation, most drivers are ignorant people. They don’t know (or simply ignoring) the rules and laws of using public road. You can have the biggest fines or summons in the world but when it comes to dealing with ignorant people, you just can’t win. Road hogging, beating the red light, using the emergency lane, parking indiscriminately and so on are normal everyday sight on the road. Just last night I saw a Viva cut in front of an ambulance which had the siren and beacon on. The ambulance have to apply emergency braking to avoid hitting that bastard.
It begs the question, how did these idiots passed the driving test? Do driving school even teach the RTA to the students? I passed my driving test more than 20 years ago. Since then I read a lot of so called improvements have been made to teach new driver. Did these improvements even works?
The only viable solution for these disease:
1. The long term are educating the young (children) about road safety.
2. Revise the Driving School syllabus to include learning the RTA.
3. Limit the period of Learning License (L) for about a month or 2 only per year. If you take the L, you must sit for the test within 1 year. No more using L for everyday driving until God knows when.
These are for future drivers. What about current drivers? Well here is my suggestion.
1. Scrap the current summons/fines/compounds system. Replace it with Current Value system (CVS). Here how its work. Issue ticket as usual, rate are determine by value of car set by the government when the road tax is renew. Say if your car was insured for RM 40,000.00:
a. First time offence – 10% of that amount ie RM 400.00
b. Second time offence – 15% of that amount ie RM 600.00 and so on.
(for 3rd party insurance, the rate will be determine by JPJ of MoT)
2. For public transport vehicle, the rate above should be double. They are after all carrying other people and endangering these people should be punished severely.
3. For good transport vehicle, the same rules as public transport applies.
4. For motorcycles, first time offender will be fined RM300.00. Second time offender RM 600.00. Double up for every time for repeated offender.
Now for any arguments that these are burdening for the rakyat, the message is clear: DON’T BREAK THE LAW! You wont get summoned.
These are just ideas but it will still remain as idea if there is no implementation and enforcement. The government should ensure all enforcement body apply these rules and God willing we can see a much improvement on our road.
On a side note, someone suggest 0.5% of the fines should be given back to the enforcement personnel who issue the summons. I support this and would suggest it a bit different. Instead to the personnel, give it to the station. So every personnel can share this ‘bonus’ and at the same time we can reduce if not eliminate corruption from these bodies.
PS: All the year I’ve driving, not even ONCE I was approach by any enforcement officer asking for bribe. So all those that says officer asking for bribe, are they asking or were you giving? It takes a thief to know a thief, as the saying goes. Ciao
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These are good solutions. Thank you for the comment King Brutal.
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One thumbs up for King Brutal’s suggestions.
I’ve been driving a lot in America and England (both sides of the road if you may) and it’s really easy to observe the fact that people here are just ‘nicer’ drivers. They don’t jump red lights, they don’t swerve between lanes, they follow the speed limit (because of speed trap cameras), don’t speed in residential areas and they are very observant of pedestrians.
As much as I hate speed cameras in England, I think they would be a good solution for Malaysia. Since our police officers are so called ‘corrupted’.
In America there aren’t that many (if at all) speed trap cameras, but the police are everywhere. You wouldn’t want to bribe them less you want a quick ‘go to jail’ card.
My friend who just arrived in California didn’t really know the ‘rules’ of what to do when you get pulled over by a cop. Instead of turning down the music and place both hands on the steering wheel, he opted to exit his car and reached for his wallet in his back pocket (terbawak perangai Malaysia kot). The two cops immediately tackled him down and gave him a good beating. He then got sent to the local jail, but after the student adviser from the University came and explained that he was an idiot and didn’t know the rules, he was let go.
Imagine how our local crybabies would scream police brutality at that scene?
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JMD,
Sometimes I believe that summonses just may not work. No doubt that the government may need some form of income however to make it really work is to impose community service. Cleaning up the road wearing a vest labelled “TRAFFIC ORDER”. I would think twice if that’s the punishment. To stop corruption? One way is to put ccctvs everywhere and cameras on all police cars. If the camera on the cars does not work anymore immediately take action against the police personnel concerned. Amend the police regulations to allow this to happen. Those caught for bribery? Again, community service. Work on the gardens take care of the elderly, work on garbage trucks. I think people will think twice and we may have a cleaner nation too. The motor bikes the so-called kapchai? Limit the engine capacity and power of the bike. Idea is to get to point A to point B but not at brake neck speeds. You want a higher capacity? Go for bigger bikes. This may also reduce the current spate of crime committed by people on those type of bikes.
The PR people? Obviously they do not practice what they preach. While they should be allowed to demonstrate in the name of democracy and freedom others is not allowed to do the same. Case in point look at LGE. Any ideas not from them is ridiculous. Only they tell the truth. Only they are angels and everyone else are devils. And apparently only they have the monopoly over heaven. Anyone else that do not support them is destined to hell. I would say that Karpal, LGE, LKS et al have secured one hell of a bargain.
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Can we omit the last 3 words of your comment please, so that the last sentence will read “I would say that Karpal, LGE, LKS et al have secured one hell”.
I support the view that there must be a strong Government, one which will take a firm, no-nonsense stand on the administration of the country, from no corruption to not allowing potholes on the roads, to cleaning drains and public toilets.
How to get a strong government? The votes. It’s the people’s choice. Some might say, left to the people, nincompoops will get to rule and a lot of dog and cow poops will be on the streets. But IT.Sheiss above has given interesting views regarding the rise of Saddam Hussein, etc. Think about it. Possible in this country? If there is chaos and disorder on the roads, double parking even in shopping mall basement parking, would people mind the emergence of a Sadam to godam the irresponsible, dangerous, goons and gagnsters behind wheels? Can we look for and vote a Sadam into power?
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PS:
Not exactly a Sadam Hussein. But some one with the will to correct the wrongs like Sadam. Not, for example, dragging the Engineer tied to his 4WD, just telling the AG to prosecute such fellows until imprisoned – appeal to the highest Court of the land to get prison sentences..
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I don’t want a Sadam Hussein but I want a Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamed, even a stricter and more aggressive PM than him. TDM was a no-nonsense PM. He had weaknesses, but show me one guy in this entire world who is perfect. He even changed the Constitution to make erring Malay Rulers responsible for their personal acts and deeds, but he did it according to the law. He changed the Chief Justice, but he did it according to the law.
He did not kasi muka to the Opposition and they did not dare be seditious, subversive and extremely provocative, otherwise to jail or Kamunting ISA they went – he would not have repealed ISA, even if there’s a replacement. He did not allow the “flip flopping, auto-piloting and sleepy” kind of rule that led to the current messy situation – even anarchy on the roads, one comment said above. TDM now appears to me as a hero. Disagree and dissent as you like but give your arguments and justification and avoid a Tojo.
I want the likes of him to rule, get the enforcement agencies together, think out and implement effective strategies such that the “goons and gangsters behind wheels” will not be on the roads, perhaps banned from driving and even become literally scared of driving. I don’t even mind a situation where the culprits are literally held by the collar, dragged to the Police Station, questioned and interrogated until they admit their mistakes, sign written statements to that effect, explain why they commit those traffic crimes, then kept in the lock up for as many days as possible, then dragged to Court to answer charges on them. Tried, then handed down prison sentences, like Isa said. Dangerous driving, double parking with impunity, etc, shit fellows.
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One was is to confiscate their vehicle for a while or suspend their driving license for a year.
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JMD, like most stuff in Malaysia, easier said than done. Our problem solving never really took into account the actual scenarios that happen in our daily lives. It is general.
Now you may say that you will not drive fast, because you only consider your daily, normal routine life. There will come a point, probably once every 2-3 years, you want to go to airport, or rushing to hospital for an emergency, and then you are slapped with RM 1000 speeding fine. At that point of time, typical middle income person earned probably RM 3-4K a month. Minus the commitments, you may end up eating sand at the end of the month bro!
It’s ok, it only happen once every 2-3 years, I will continue be a good driver and will never repeat this offence. No, you won’t act like this, you will curse all day long.
The actual point I like to say is you may do 1000 things right, but it only took 1 or 2 mistakes to make you change your mind.
These law amendments is amended from the lawmaker’s point of view. People who are considered as VIP in Malaysia. They don’t go through the same roads that normal people use. Their roads are smooth as silk, in the big comfortable, dark tinted cars with drivers. Even if they drive fast, and got summons, the don’t have to pay bribe, don’t have to pay anything.
These new laws are like the speed limit stickers behind buses, trucks, and heavy vehicles, they are decoration only.
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There you go, tsyhll – your last sentence. If buses, trucks and heavy vehicles don’t observe traffic limits, what are we going to do?
I support the call for and to vote in a strong government that will take a no-nonsense stand on the traffic criminals. A strong BN will do the job – PR cannot be a strong government because they cannot even get to Putrajaya.
What is your suggestion to reduce the offenders?
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I’m gonna be frank here, those people who drive buses, trucks and heavy vehicles are not exactly from an educated lot. It they are educated, the would do something else.
So we can’t exactly compare truck drivers and normal drivers like apple to apple. They are professionals, driving is their job. Normal drivers only drive to get from point A to B.
I strongly believed in baseball system, 3 strikes or points or whatever is equivalent.
First minor traffic offences should be summoned probably 100 and strike one. Strike 2, 300, Strike 3 RM 1000 and you’re out. Try again in a year or 2.
Something like this. This way, money is not the main objective. It is your livelihood on the line. Anybody could pay 100, 300 and even 1000, but not many can afford to lose to ability to move around freely.
The way I see it, the government and police want to make extra money instead of keeping the mad drivers off the road. I quoted below:
“On a related note, Road Transport Department will test a new system which will encourage traffic offenders to settle their summonses quickly. Every year the government loses millions of ringgit from unsettled summonses by traffic criminals.”
My summary, Govt want your money quickly.
But again, if you got relatives, cables, or anybody on the police force or JPJ that could easily clear your record just by clicking enter, then forget that you ever read this.
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The Government doesn’t go getting money ad hoc i.e as and when they want, or thought to be short of money.
Every year we read about Budgets being debated and approved by Parliament. The Government always works on the basis of the Budget, annually estimated income and expenditure, submitted to and approved by Parliament at the end of the year, spends it the following year under strict monitoring and scrutiny by the Ministry of Finance. If the Government really needs more money to spend under unforeseen circumstances, it will go to Parliament and ask for approval under a Supplementary Budget and the income and expenditure for the following year gets adjusted when they next draft the Budget. I’ve read about Supplementary Budget requests a few times.
Annually, for Budget purposes, the Government estimates its income from the established major sources e.g income tax (companies, individuals, organizations), sales tax, import and export duties, fees from all sorts such as licenses of various kinds, including driving licenses and vehicle licenses (usually called road tax). Traffic fines total a meager amount compared to the billions budgeted and expended. The Government doesn’t fine the rakyat for the sake of raising income or “wanting your money quickly”.
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Is this the same budget that allow buying binoculars 10x the actual amount by Jabatan Taman Laut among any others? Everything looks nice and systematic on paper my friend.
If you look at the statistic at Royal Malaysian Police website (a point to ponder here, the website address is http://www.rmp.gov.my, apsal tak letak http://www.pdrm.kerajaan.my?, even the website looks like it is created by somebody who just learn html), most accidents happened on Municipal Road, state roads, federal roads and expressway. The risk of accident on expressway is way less that any roads.
But as we all already “sedia maklum”, polis really like to do speed trap on expressway. Why do you want to do an operation on roads that has less risk of accident?
Also please take note, summonses count increases every year, means that police churns out summonses at probably the same rate of accidents that happen in Malaysia, this is win loss to me.
It doesn’t matter whether it is meager amount or not, it is still money.
The problem with our summons system is it does not get rid of mad men/women from our roads. You could collect hundreds of summons throughout the year but still be able to drive freely. People like VIPs, Rich people, politician and their family, Royals are reported to accumulate lots of unpaid traffic summons (up to 89 summons, amounting to RM 26k) and continue to do so. Why can’t after 10 summons or so, police arrest you and take your license?
And why are we still looking for new traffic offence system, when we can just look at how other country did it. German, Australia uses point system to name a few. Talk on the phone, will get you 3 points and summons of course. After you collect let say 10 points, obviously there is something wrong with you and the government will fine you more, and sent you to road safety seminar for 2 days. If you keep on collecting points, obviously you are not fit to drive, therefore get a bicycle or use public transport.
This idea is not mine and not new. Why do we wan’t to reinvent the wheel? Why waste more time and money? Why want to cause hardship to hard working people of Malaysia?
I have no respect to people in Government, doesn’t matter opposition or the current one. People who joined govt most likely the type of person who could not do anything else, or not accepted in other companies. And we let this people manage or life.
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You are making wild accusations, man.
The content of your comment loses substance and people become less inclined to believe or respect what you say when you wildly accuse “buying binoculars 10x the actual amount by Jabatan Taman Laut “, loosely use such words as “no respect to people in Government”, “if you got relatives, cables, or anybody on the police force or JPJ that could easily clear your record just by clicking enter,” or “People who joined govt most likely the type of person who could not do anything else, or not accepted in other companies.”
You have not provided one iota of proof, justification, explanation or even an example to those accusations and wild statements you make. What buying more binoculars than needed, when, where, by whom, what criteria used, etc. What “people in Government” are you talking about, who, why, etc. If foreign governments respect Malaysian Government leaders and the Officers exposed to them, why shouldn’t you? Why are you better than them? What proof or justification you have implying they are corrupt? What makes you think you can do better than “People who joined govt”? Can anyone respect you when you appear to be talking nonsense on many aspects, although you may have a little substance on the traffic regulations aspect?
As the Englishman would say, pity.
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Wan oh wan, you obviously do not know jack shit man. Where have you been all this while? In the government too long or under your tempurung? Do you really need proof for the stuff that I mentioned? It has been on the news la bro. If you really care about our country you could at least do some research before saying anything. Save you the embarrassment. Also, if you could actually do some finger lifting, it is not really that hard to find them.
I see no point of continuing this discussion with. However since I’m in a good mood, I’m going to provide you with the proof so that you could open your eyes and mind.
Binoculars and other stuff:
http://www.theedgemalaysia.com/in-the-financial-daily/195176-rm56000-for-binoculars.html
Degree holder can now apply for SPM level job in the government:
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2012/7/5/nation/11604666&sec=nation
Efficiency of civil service:
http://my.news.yahoo.com/perception-still-an-issue-for-civil-service-says-144614895.html
Now only want to open job for professionals from private sector?
http://www.utusan.com.my/utusan/info.asp?y=2011&dt=1128&pub=Utusan_Malaysia&sec=Muka_Hadapan&pg=mh_01.htm
Several points for you to ponder, did you know most of government officers are graduate in human resource study? Did you know in government, seniority is first ability is second?
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You may know a bit of Jack but you shit a lot, man. I also think there’s no point in continuing this conversation but I wanna say a bit more before I close.
There has been far too many wild accusations by Opposition blokes and those who talk loosely, simply saying things that cross their blasted heads without thinking that they need to be checked. Examples from your comments have been given in my earlier comment.
People must be made to be responsible for their words and actions so that there’ll be decency and decorum when commenting or saying things in this uncontrollable print form called the Internet and blogs. Enough of the likes of Malaysian Insider which has been sued millions of Ringgit by former MAS Chairman Tajuddin Ramli – ending up in MI having to repeatedly print apologies in their blog and in the mainstream newspapers – and in the hideous Malaysia Kini blog which has been warned by Home Minister Hishamuddin for reporting what he said wrongly.
What I asked or said against you was not for lack of knowledge or lack of will to research but meant to get people like you to learn to be responsible in what you say. It’s even stupid of you to say, for example, that Government Officers are no good just because they have degrees in the humanities. Stupidity is not in the degree you have but in what you say.
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If I may, I do not believe that most government officers are graduates in human resource study. How did you derive this deduction? And secondly, even in the private sector, seniority will always be taken into account, especially in performance appraisal. But then again, I seldom see an SPM graduate in the government sector being promoted to become a director general just because he’s been in the service as a clerk for 30 years. What is more potent than seniority and ability is getting ahead through office politics. It exists in both government and private sectors. Thank you.
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Yes, I also believe only a smattering few have degrees in “human resources study”. The chap probably confuses it with “degrees in the humanities” – Arts degrees, degrees in Sociology, History, Malay Studies, Literature and the like. But he is the proverbial mulut jubor ayam ngeram, so loose that all sorts of shit comes out from his mouth.
Yo, there are PhDs and many Master’s Degree holders in the Civil Service. Believe it or not, there is the Astro physicist like Mazlan (a female), nuclear physicists like Nor Ramli who was tasked to look into the nuclear energy aspects of the country’s development, and they were all (probably still are) in the Civil Service. The Public Services Department has been sending students overseas for specialized scientific and technical courses for a long time already and such people have come back serving in the Civil Service.
Maybe we already have nuclear scientists specialized in atom-splitting quantum theorists or something who can build nuclear weapons like Pakistan has. I like to see that. Once we have some, people respect us – Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak waited for a chance opportunity to meet Pakistan President Musharraf at a Paris Hotel some years ago (Pakistan has not recognized Israel, like Malaysia) because Pakistan has nuclear weapons, never mind however corrupt.
The fellow who has no respect for all Government Officers must be nuts. Give him a nuclear fart when we have nuclear capability!
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PS:
Dr Mazlan the astro physicist and Dr Nor Ramli the nuclear physicist both have PhDs from reputed overseas universities – Government Officers.
What does tsyhill, who has no respect for all Government Officers, have, I wonder.
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To show readers the stupidity and the lose talk of this “tsyhll” fellow, upon his wild accusation of “no good” Government Officers being challenged, he provided a link to thestar.com news report on the Public Services Commission okay-ing employment of graduates for jobs meant for SPM holders. Specifically, the report said, “The PSC had announced that effective July 1, degree holders would be allowed to apply and hold positions meant for SPM holders.”
Come on, surely that doesn’t mean that the degree holders (whatever discipline) are no good. This bloke “tsyhll” does not even know or is unable to think about the economic situation in the country where the over-supply of graduates have led to the PSC decision. Of course, that news report also pointed out that when the situation becomes better and there are more graduate positions available, such graduates apply for the jobs suited to their qualification. And this shyllt fellow will next say all politicians are no good – he may not respect anybody but himself only.
Assuming that this shyllt fellow has some kind of professional qualification (note that many Engineers are only Diploma not Degree holders, and many lawyers are Inns of Court Bar-at-law title, not law Degree holders), one will not say all professionals are not good, however much one may want to hit at him. This is because one thinks before saying out things. That’s the difference between the stupid him and the not-stupid others.
The shyllt fellow may not even understand the many branches of what is generally called the Civil Service. They include the Clerical Service, the various kinds of support staff (stenographers, personal secretaries, etc), right to the highest, the Administrative and Diplomatic Service (ADS or PTD) Officers who serve as Chief Secretary to the Government, the Secretaries General of Ministries, the Deputies and Assistant Secretaries, Directors, Deputies and Assistant Directors of all sorts of posts. When distinguishing the Military and the Police, all others like the Customs, the Forestry Service etc, are also included in the general term Civil Service. But if there is such a service as Uncivilized Service, the shyllt fellow and his likes may apply.
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Government Officers can create additional ADS or PTD posts for graduates – that’s the job of the Public Services Department. And it’s also the job of Government Officers in the Ministry of Finance to allocate funds for their salaries etc.
But they don’t, because it’ll lead to a bloating of the top section of the Civil Service, creating too many generals and not many soldiers. It’s self restraint and a sense of responsibility. That’s why the Public Services Commission authorized the posts of clerks meant for SPM holders to be filled by Degree holders as a temporary measure.
Yet tsyhill says he has “no respect to (for) people in Government”? I agree that his name should be spelt as shyllt. He can’t even write English properly, using “to” instead of “for”.
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Regarding speeding during medical emergency, I did ask the Traffic Chief once about this. His reply “Bring the Hospital document (eg Admission Record, Letter from the hospital confirming such case) to us and we will cancel that summon.” It might be just this one officer stance on this matter, if anyone have some info on the validity of this, please share.
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I am not a supporter of bribery. But I am one of those who believe that the new summon rates will make most of the traffic offenders look for ways to pay the policemen instead of the government. Only silly offenders will pay RM2000 if they could get away with let say, RM300. See, now even the rate of the bribe will increase. We have to acknowledge the fact that if those offenders are decent law abiding citizens, they shall not break the law in the first place. So we cannot be to idealistic and simply believe that they will oblige to the summons – what more if the amounts to be paid are so obnoxious.
For me the ultimate reason why we penalize road offenders is because we don’t want accident to happen. It is the road accidents that we want to avoid. So we should adopt a system that will make drivers fear of getting into an accident. If they get into one, they have to pay for it – no way out of it. How? Adopt drivers’ insurance system instead just the insurance for the vehicles. Let the vehicle insurances cover only for theft or other criminally motivated acts, etc. But for accidents, they must be paid by the drivers’ insurance policies. So let the insurance companies do the assessment on how much those accident prone drivers have to pay for their premiums when their next renewals come by. This way I am sure every driver will try his/her best not to make mistake and be involved in a accident while driving.
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Dear JMD
Is this new regulation (of higher fines) going to reduce accidents? maybe.
Is it going to make some parties rich ? Surely .
Is it going to reduce corruption at the mata-mata level???? We shall have to see.
I believe traffic offences were made compoundable (fines only) with some good reason, ie to teach you a “lesson” to learn (without grave penalty) and be a better driver/person. When these fines are raised to criminal levels, does it intend to equate one to a criminal or is it just for money?
To make it a “lesson”, you need to be caught in the act ie fast, reprimanded fast and hence it can get to your head that you should not do it again. It is pointless if the summons arrives when you either have died, retired, been made a bankrupt or suddenly became poor and have sold the car and now make a living driving something for somebody. If this A.E.S. can even SMS you and inform you of your offence within a week, then the impact is great. Just imagine an sms sent to you, and that would surely make your day.
As for making money, cameras placed to catch drivers on emergency lanes should see 3000 offenders daily just on the KL-PJ Federal Highway alone. Thats cool cool money.
In terms of real “lessons”, i heard in more developed countries, traffic light offences as well as speeding over the limit by 35KM/h earns you an immediate appointment with the magistrate court. One hell of a psychological impact even before the fine!
As for corruption. The mata-mata will have to relegate to “non camera zones”. If they are in camera zones, those traffic offenders stupid enough to think of a “suap duit kopi” may be in for a surprise. The camera has already caught you ! Now the mata-mata wants to catch you for a bribe attempt.
Many of the commenters have highlighted that driver attitudes have worsened, hence the many accidents we hear of. This is very alarming but nevertheless true.
Malaysians are always in a hurry and this hurry leads them to make these shortcuts. Unfortunately, this bad habit begins from “home”. Cars are already speeding in housing areas when the limit is actually 15KM/h. Cars hardly stop at a junction with stop signs thinking they are still driving bikes. All these offences occur far before they reach any main road or highway.
Stop them here (near home) and their attitudes should change for the better. Otherwise, this uncovered zones would be the new hunting grounds for the mata-mata’s.
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JMD,
Look at the quality of your readers/commenters. Is this the kind of people that you would like to attract?
“Proverbial mulut jubor ayam ngeram, so loose that all sorts of shit comes out from his mouth.”
“Give him a nuclear fart when we have nuclear capability!”
This choice of words is the same as typical Mat Rempits comments on entertainment and gossip blogs. You have all the right to hate my choice of words (which is opinion by the way) and sarcasm, but to hate the reality of facts that I have given here? How does someone stoop so low to resort to calling names and calling people stupid? In my experiences commenting in blogs, those who started using these words really got nothing else to say or have a bad childhood. It is a defensive mechanism.
To answer your question, my views on government are derived from my parents, both my own and in law. Both of my father and father in law served in the government. Your example on the clerk scenario is a bit on the extreme side, but true office politics is very important in any organization. The actual scenario that is going on is much simpler. 2 officers (degree holders) with seniority set them apart a couple of years. The younger officer may have the best ideas; hardworking but the chances of him to surpass the senior officer is very slim (I choose ‘slim’ here because it has happened before). In most cases, civil servant lacks the motivation to put in that extra effort, simply because ‘langkah bendul’ is very unlikely to happen.
Again, it differs on what type of job we are talking about; in general there are 2, managerial and professional. Managerial or paper pushers are where most of this Seniority Advantage plays a big role in your career. In professional field like Engineering, Accounting and IT, your skills, knowledge and ability is your advantage. Again with the right office politics skill, the odds could be even. In government, you’re going to need this lot.
My question to you JMD, let say the government got all the best talent from the talent pool, why does government still relies on third party consultants to do most of the important works? Why the need of privatization? Why the need of the likes of MYEG? Why can’t it come from the Inside of the GOVERNMENT?
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I believe this blog received far worse comment than that. But yes, you can always air your grievances to the party that you feel aggrieved. To answer your question, no the government does not have the best talent from the talent pool. Which is a great loss to the country. But in the face of so many variables, the government probably cannot afford the best talent based on the current salary structure of the JPA. This problem is not limited to us Malaysians. It is a worldwide phenomena when delving into the issues of inefficiencies in the public sector. There are many reasons for privatisation. In the wider scale, the government is already spending huge amount of money on staff cost and by privatising few of its assets, it could help alleviate the financial impact on the yearly budget. Before, government pays for the salaries of staff in Lembaga Letrik Negara or Jabatan Padi Negara etc, now they pay these costs themselves and we are still left with more than a million civil servants. Even Euro is embarking on massive privatisation program. Greece for instance are selling off government branches so that it could help finance some of government’s expenditure. Plus, the positive spin-off from privatisation is greater than for it to languish in the public sector. On a smaller scale, privatisation as you mentioned probably could help people like us transact better and faster. But they could still transact directly with the government agencies. I do not think MYEG is compulsory. Bottom line, it’s education of the people that matters. If people are educated to be more efficient, no doubt all sectors (including commercial) will improve. Thank you.
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Just look at the arrogance and self-centredness of the bloke.
He said, “You have all the right to hate my choice of words … but to hate the reality of facts that I have given here?” Who the bloody hell says all that he has given are “facts”?
This bloke must have a warped mind and a demented personality.
I suppose he would next complain about the words “bloke” and “bloody.” Look at the Oxford Dictionary if you are thinking of that, old boy.
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Come on, I’m pretty sure you have something to bring to the table other than saying I’m arrogant, self centred right, warped mind and demented personality, Mr Psychiatrist?
As JMD put here above the comment form, “Astound us with your intelligence!”. All I can read from your comment here is just an empty and meaningless rant.
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“tsyhll” is now “bamboozled”?
Saying “I’m (he is) arrogant, self centred right, warped mind and demented personality”?
Now I also think no point in carrying on the conversation.
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Reading further, one sees that the subsequent paragraphs are decently said, not like some of the words he used in earlier comments, for which he got the comments that he complained of.
Hopefully he’d come in with more of the comments like this one above, minus saying all that he said are “facts”. Note that, for example, not all Wikepedia information is correct. They can be written and edited by any Ahmad, Chin and Muthu.
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There you go, if you care to take a minute to understand what the argument is all about, then you know what you need to say, rather than coming in with all guns blazing.
Last time I check, news is considered facts unless it is being retracted.
If you go to the links I’ve copy above, it is from Yahoo, The Edge, The Star and Utusan.
You were saying Wikipedia, Ahmad, Chin and Muthu?
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“You were saying Wikipedia, Ahmad, Chin and Muthu?” –
Didn’t read the word “for example” in my comment there ha?
Boy oh boy, if all “news is considered facts unless it is being retracted”, we wouldn’t have had the Iraq War, World War II and all the shit in the world since recorded history.
Bye, tsyhll or bamboozled, whatever your name is.
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tsyhll,
the law is implemented in a way that it conforms to the masses. it’s not meant to be created for individual exceptions. (concerning your 1 in 1000 scenario)
that’s why we have judges, juries, the appeals process etc so that individual experiences can be accounted for. eg: a person who kills someone else might escape corporal punishment if he is deemed insane.
i’d have to disagree with you when it comes to the ‘government wanting money’, which is why they increase fines. i think Wan’s explanation on July 5, 2012 at 7:48 pm is a good answer.
concerning the government, i think there is some truth to what you say. but you’re painting it using broad strokes though. my parents both have PhD’s from an American university, and they’re both government workers (work in the university in Malaysia). i wouldn’t want to place them in the category you mentioned.
adam
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Government Officers, like what the Chief Justice said in Kota Bharu several days ago of Judges, are, by rules, conventions, etiquette and what have you, unable to reply to accusations made against them in the media, except the very few designated to do so, and in very rare cases. “Judges cannot defend themselves in newspapers or debate with their detractors,” said C.J Tun Arifin Zakaria. The same with Government Officers in the Civil Service.
In view of the wild and unsubstantiated allegations and blanket statements of not respecting Government Service and Government Officers, those who know a little bit about it through business dealings etc, and have Government Officers as friends, should therefore give the facts where relevant as and when the wild allegations surface. Good that such has been done in here.
But those persisting in making immature comments and wild allegations get the riff raff when the explanations have been provided and the replies to those are not based on solid facts. Saying ““news is considered facts unless it is being retracted” is indeed immature. Similarly, saying in blanket fashion that “civil servant lacks the motivation to put in that extra effort” shows ignorance of the many civil servants who burn the midnight oil to complete papers, memos to meet all sorts of dead lines.
Unfavourable views from parents indicate the parents themselves experiencing unhappiness on promotions. People need to know the criteria for promotions in Government Service. The objective and the subjective aspects. But these are about the same as in the private sector. Although the private sector’s evaluation of an Executive’s performance can often be measured in Ringgit and Sen, yet not in all cases. The dollar value of performance can hardly be applied to Government Officers as it cannot to many categories of private sector workers as well.
Talk about “working hard”, how is “hardworking” measured, anyway? Clocking the hours of work? But how to tell whether it’s “putting the work into the time” and not “the time into the work”? And is the value of Feasibility Study reports, Financial Models, Architects’ or Engoneers’ project proposals etc based on length, report or proposal thickness?
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Is there a racial profile to double parking? Not meaning to be racialist in asking this, but even politics now is very much along racial lines. Sincerely want to know and anybody can give his/ her opinion to this question of mine.
Has it a bearing on the racial composition of the towns and cities where double parking is rampant? Has it any bearing on the trades or occupation of people, as salesmen and delivery personnel are likely to double park in rushing up their work? I have not seen the tie-wearing Executive type double park so far.
And the excuse that they let the gear free and do not apply the hand brakes when double parking is not only invalid but also dangerous, as a slight road incline will set their vehicles rattling on others. And giving that excuse in a terse looking face, without any apology for the poor chap waiting for half an hour to get out of his authorized parking space – certainly has to do with upbringing, but any racial profile to that, too?
Please note that I have not accused any racial community, merely ask in general terms.
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Some people may say racial profiling is not a good thing. It’s not so. Racial characteristics have been used, and will continue to be used, in medical science to help doctors in diagnosis. So has it been used in Police work and crime investigations. In US and elsewhere, including in Malaysia.
The words “round up the usual suspects” are heard in movies and in actual life. In exceptional or risky situations, like when two blokes went amok brandishing samurai swords in Putrajaya recently and when Perak MB Dr Zambry refuses the advice to have additional security when visiting the rakyat, such fellows who should be rounded up by the authorities may belong to a particular racial group. Perak has been known to be the second place in this country where secret societies, thugs and gangsters thrived – they even started the Larut Wars I, II, III and IV that eventually led to the bloody British colonization of this country.
Here in Malaysia we need to reduce the number and frequency of occurrence of traffic crimes. And I don’t believe that increasing fines alone would help much. But racial profiling can help the authorities plan programmes to educate the masses through the mass media, NGOs, political parties and the like. They must be educated and re-educated. Like the communists did to the so-called “anti-revolutionists and reactionaries”.
The US traffic penalties include hours of community services which can shame the criminals. Let’s apply the normal and increased penalties on the criminals but educate them, too, and the others as well before they become criminals.
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I like to see the Ministry of Information does more in educating the public to behave, including on the roads. They can get the various departments and organizations under their purview to initiate action. They can also get all those mass media organizations being given licenses to operate to produce educational programmes – both direct and subtle ones. TV, radio, etc.
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And what about those spare part shops, tyre shops, car repairs and assessory shops taking public parking spaces without paying a sen. Simply place a stool on the parking space in front of their shops. Racial profile? You know that. Who else are in those lines of business.
Yes, these are not the the dangerous kinds, like the speeders and the traffic light beaters. But is parking only a Majlis Bandaran matter? There used to be a time when Policemen issued summons to parking offenders. When Majlis Bandaran took over, the lintang pukang appeared. People even laugh at parking tickets.
There must be a co-ordinated campaign to fine and bring offenders to court. Involving authorities who have the power to trace the correct addresses of vehicle owners and arrest them if notices sent are habitually disregarded. Do it a few times Publicise such campaigns and publish the photographs of the culprits found guilty.
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I have been ban from RPK MT, so I may as well re-visit this blog since it’s getting pretty lonely for those addicted to making comments on the net.
This haprak HP6 gahmen and their administrators will never learn. Their brains have become dumb probably due to cannabis abuse.
In the 1990’s they implemented cameras at traffic junctions to nab those who beat the lights. But they forgot that traffic cops takes over the junction in the morning and evening and the flash kept on flashing to the embarrassment of those with any intellectual capacity.
FYI, the bulk of mortality rates are due to motorcyclist. if Chinese cities like Guangzhou can ban motorcycles in their cities, I cannot see any reason why Malaysia cannot do the same. The reason for doing this is simple. Most motorcyclist break traffic law with impunity and for the young ones below driving age, with their parents consent. If they are serious about imposing traffic rules, all they have to do is to wait at school gates and apprehend those who ride motor bikes to school without a license and insurance.plus no road tax.
Imposing huge fines by post will deter singaporeans from driving into Malaysia as they will have no idea if they are caught for offences unless it’s posted on the net.
Many Thais too wants to drive into Malaysia, but we are too tough on Thai cars with dark tints whereas local cars are allowed to roam freely. This is a huge barrier to increasing tourist flow from Thailand. they should be allows a waiver for say, two weeks to drive around the country and contribute to the country’s coffers.
On the increase in traffic fines, the privatisation exercise is nothing more than an exercise to rob the driving public of more money. the private companies will benefit as the fines will only be an incentives for them to build even more speed/ traffic cameras. The result will be more cars unable to pay the fines when it comes to renewing their road tax and thus more uninsured cars on our roads.
Don’t forget, in this country we are taxed twice. Once by the government, and second time by their cronies. This traffic camera privatisation is a very good example.
Haprak. hP6
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