Inspector-general police Khalid Abu Bakar has urged the Transport Ministry to immediately enforce the Kejara ‘demerit point’ system to deter road users from committing offences.

“There is no need to talk too much. We already have this system in place, so we now need to implement and enforce it,” Khalid said at a press conference in Penang today.

“In other countries, the licences of drivers who commit offences would have been suspended immediately. We have the system, but do not use it.

“Let it be a deterrent to those who are still stubborn and do not abide by the rules and regulations,” he stressed.

Khalid was responding to Transport Minister and MCA president Liow Tiong Lai’s remark that the enforcement of the Kejara demerit point system and the Automatic Enforcement System (AES) would be more effective in educating road users than imposing high fines.

Liow was then commenting on Khalid’s suggestion that imposing higher fines would ensure that motorists comply with road regulations.

IGP hopes to get feedback

Khalid said his suggestion to impose higher fines was not official.

He said he merely “offered” his views to address the rising number of accidents in the country due to the attitude of the drivers concerned, and he hopes to get feedback from members of the public on the matter.

When their pockets are affected, Khalid said, road users could change their behaviour and start to drive carefully and safely.

“To me, drivers who do not break the law do not have to be worried. There is no need to panic over this proposal as this is still at the proposal stage.

“Actually, we have not proposed this officially to the government. I only said it to hear the views of the people,” he added.

Khalid noted that the last time traffic offence fine rates were reviewed was in 1987.

Asked if higher fines or penalties would lead to higher bribery and corruption of police officers, Khalid said, “We are taking all steps to ensure this does not happen. We will tighten the systems to prevent corruption.”

He also warned those who have not paid their fines to settle them immediately and “don’t wait until we come to your homes”.