Tempers flare at Madani anniversary do over 'JPJ discounts'

The event to mark the first anniversary of the Anwar Ibrahim administration today got off to a bad start as some were left unhappy because they could not obtain a discount on Road Transport Department (JPJ) fines.

There were 102 government services on offer at the three-day event held at the Bukit Jalil National Stadium, including a 50 percent discount on traffic fines issued by the police.

However, some media organisations reported that JPJ was offering discounts at the event as well, which was not true.

When Malaysiakini visited the JPJ booth at about 11am today, some 50 people were lining up, only to find out that this department was not offering discounts.

One irate individual, identified as Jhoell Harriyson, told Malaysiakini that the authorities should have notified the public about the misinformation being circulated regarding the purported JPJ discounts.

"A week ago, TV3 reported that JPJ would provide discounts during Madani government's anniversary celebration," Harriyson said.

"This statement was disseminated by TV3, and people waited in line for two hours here just to pay the JPJ fines. (But in the end) JPJ inform that this statement was incorrect.

"I am very disappointed and angry. It's hard to find parking outside, (but I still) tried to come here to pay the summons."

Two hours

Some people also showed JPJ officers infographics produced by an established private TV channel clearly stating that the department was offering discounts on fines.

Nadia Nabilah said tried to pay her father's fine after learning there would be a discount for JPJ fines.

However, upon arrival, she was informed by the JPJ officials that there was no such discount offered.

Subsequently, she showed the media two infographics, one from TV3 and the other featuring the 'Madani Government One Year Anniversary Programme' logo.

Another woman, who declined to be named, said she drove two hours to the event and was left disappointed that there were no JPJ discounts on offer.

"If there is no discount, we might as well pay it online. If you don't give a discount, why should we bother coming all the way here."

JPJ officers were at hand to calm down the crowd, which eventually left without incident.

For the record, an aide to Transport Minister Anthony Loke had told the media on Sunday to correct the erroneous reports purporting that JPJ is offering discounts.

The message was relayed through a Transport Ministry WhatsApp group set up for communicating with the press.

Brisk business

On the other hand, the traffic police booth was enjoying brisk business with individuals queuing up since early morning. As of 11am, about 300 people were in line.

The staff told Malaysiakini that they had distributed around 3,000 queue numbers.

Due to the large number of distributed queue numbers, they decided to stop allowing people to enter the booth around 11am.

As a result, nearly 100 people gathered outside the booth, still hoping to obtain a number.

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