11,427 traffic offences recorded on 3 days of Awas

KUALA LUMPUR: A total of 11,427 traffic offences were recorded under the Automated Awareness Security System (Awas) for the duration of three days since it came into effect on April 15.

Deputy Transport Minister Datuk Ab Aziz Kaprawi said of the total, 5,972 cases were traffic light offences while 5,455 cases involved speeding.

“However, until now, there has been no suspension of the driving licence for the traffic offenders, and so far, no one has yet to pay the fine for the offences committed,” he said during a question and answer session at the Dewan Negara yesterday.

He was replying to a supplementary question from Senator Datuk Hanafi Mamat who wanted the ministry to state the result of Awas implementation and the numbers of suspended licences on the traffic offenders following the implementation.

Elaborating, Ab Aziz said the government had suspended a total of 1,115 and revoked 246 driving licences from 2006 until February this year.

He said under the Road Transport Act 1987, the driver’s driving licence can be suspended if he failed to comply with the laws and driving a motor vehicle recklessly or in a harmful manner resulting in death.

“The court can take action under Section 41 (1) of the Road Transport Act 1987, which carries a maximum jail term of 10 years and a maximum fine of RM 20,000 upon conviction,” he said.

Besides, he said, the convicted individuals would also be suspended from holding or obtaining a driving licence for a period of not less than three years from the date of conviction and would be further suspended for 10 years for the second and subsequent convictions.

In the meantime, Ab Aziz said the government was also taking steps to tighten border controls in the country to ensure that foreign drivers who commit traffic offences in Malaysia paid the fine before returning home. — Bernama

However, until now, there has been no suspension of the driving licence for the traffic offenders, and so far, no one has yet to pay the fine for the offences committed. Datuk Ab Aziz Kaprawi, Deputy Transport Minister