Deputy Home Minister Nur Jazlan Mohamed said that official government cars on government business, if caught speeding, may be exempt from paying summonses.

This is on condition the cabinet ministers and deputy ministers can justify they were rushing to official functions, he explained.

While admitting that no one should be above the law, he added that there were exceptions such as when official cars break speed limits on government business.

"Sometimes we have to hurry to get to a function.

“Who's the police? Government. Who are the ministers? Government. If on government business, it's an internal matter to be solved within us," he said when met at the Parliament lobby today.

He explained that it was not a question of not paying summonses, as they would not be issued in the first place.

He, however, stressed that government officials observe speed limits most of the time.

"We not charging 110kmh all the way, sometimes we go as low as 50kmh," he said.

Nur Jazlan admitted that the law does not allow government officials to speed even when they are on official business.

However, he said this is a pardonable wrongdoing as the relevant government officers had to rush at times.

Nur Jazlan was asked to respond to Deputy Home Minister Masir Kujat who told Dewan Rakyat that traffic police will act on official cars caught speeding.

"Listen, how many cases have there been on government cars being involved in accidents?

"Why are you (media) focusing on the government? It is the people who are speeding most of the time. We then have to raise the ceiling for traffic compounds, simple as that.

"Let's use proper judgement in this case. At the end of the day, you know we want to reduce the overall accident rate," said Nur Jazlan, who is also an Umno supreme council member.

"Any increase of fine will be for that purpose. Don't look at the behaviour of civil servants, look at the overall behaviour."

However, he said the prime minister's official car had to speed for security reasons.

It was reported that the government is mulling increasing the maximum amount of traffic compounds as the current amounts are unable to instil fear in the road users.

Better to educate the people

Earlier in the House today, Masir reiterated on the need to raise the ceiling for traffic compounds.

Teo Kok Seong (DAP-Rasah) disagreed with the proposal, saying it will further burden the people.

He then proposed that the prime minister, deputy prime minister, ministers and deputy ministers set good examples to road users by observing the speed limits.

According to Teo, it is better to educate the people.

Masir, meanwhile, stressed that action will be taken against the drivers of these official vehicles instead of the ministers and deputy ministers, who were only passengers.