A third of unpaid summonses issued to cabinet ministers have been settled since last Monday, when malaysiakini first highlighted the issue.

The majority of ministers have reduced the number of their unpaid summons. Several ministers however, have not paid up, or have not significantly reduced the number of their unpaid summonses.

Only one minister, Transport Minister Chan Kong Choy, has cleared all debt with the government since the issue was raised.

Works Minister Samy Vellu has 131 unpaid summonses, amounting to RM15,050; the largest figure owed. The summonses were issued to seven vehicles, from January 1999.

Second is Minister of Foreign Affairs Syed Hamid Syed Jaafar Albar, who has 76 unpaid summonses, amounting to RM7,390. The summonses were issued to nine vehicles.

He is followed by Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Mohd. Nazri Abdul Aziz (61 summonses, RM7,940, 12 vehicles), Entrepreneurs and Co-operation Development Minister Mohamed Khaled Nordin (58 summonses, RM7,390, 10 vehicles) and Information Minister Zainuddin Maidin (58 summonses, RM7,600, 4 vehicles).

Health Minister Dr Chua Soi Lek has 46 unpaid summonses (RM6,790, five vehicles) and Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Mohd Safie Apdal has 55 unpaid summonses (RM6,530, 12 vehicles).

Two ministers record increase

Deputy Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak has 15 summonses left unpaid. The summonses, amounting to RM1,680 were issued to three vehicles. Najib previously recorded 67 unpaid summonses. Measured by the amount owed, his is the 13th largest.

Ministers whose summonses have not changed or reduced greatly are Samy Vellu, Nazri, Zainuddin, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Mohd Effendi Norwawi and Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Dr Jamaluddin Mohd Jarjis.

They also included Plantation Industries and Commodities Peter Chin Fah Kui, Finance Minister II Nor Mohamed Yakcop, Tourism Minister Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor and Youth and Sports Minister Azalina Othman Said.

With recent summonses updated in police records, Effendi's and Mohd Safie's unpaid summonses recorded an increase.

Of the 999 known unpaid summonses, 331 have been settled. The list does not include six ministers whose summons information could not be obtained by malaysiakini.

Last Wednesday , malaysiakini incorrectly reported that Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Dr Maximus Johnity Ongkili and Federal Territories Minister Zulhasnan Rafique have settled their debt.

They still have three unpaid summonses each, from July 22, this year, onwards for Dr Maximus and from March 9 last year, onwards for Zulhasnan.

Not exempted

The Transport Ministry confirmed yesterday that all ministers and deputy ministers are not exempted from settling their summonses issued under their names.

In a Bernama report , Deputy Transport Minister Tengku Azlan Sultan Abu Bakar told the Dewan Rakyat that those in the federal cabinet have "given memos to all drivers not to drive fast" when answering a question by an opposition member.

Tengku Azlan's boss, Chan said last Thursday that ministers are to advise drivers to abide by traffic rules and regulations, on the assumption that ministers were not behind the wheel.

The Sun quoted Chan as saying that ministers have unanimously decided to pay up the summonses during a cabinet meeting the day before, but did not state a deadline when the summonses are to be settled.

This followed Najib's pledge that he would settle all his unpaid summonses and call on all ministers to do the same.

When contacted, JPJ officers said that unpaid summonses stretching back several years can be paid online through the JPJ or police website at rilek.com.my . A service charge of RM2 will be included per summons settled.

Vehicle owners can challenge the issuance of traffic summonses. There are 17 days left till Ops Warta IV ends on August 5.

Police have said they are willing to go door to door to clear the more than RM2.82 billion remaining uncollected in traffic summons issued between 2001 and 2004 from some 9.4 million drivers.

Updated version: Full list of ministers' unpaid fines