JPJ launches WhatsApp number for lodging complaints

TAPAH: The Road Transport Department (JPJ) has launched a dedicated mobile phone number for the public to lodge complaints via WhatsApp.

JPJ director-general Datuk Seri Nadzri Siron said that motorists could direct their complaints against other road users to 011-5111 5252.

“Send us photographs and details of errant road users,” he told reporters at the Tapah R&R here after inspecting traffic flow along the North-South Expressway by air yesterday.

“We also ask bus passengers to report bus companies that do not assign a second driver on journeys exceeding four hours.

“Alternatively, they can e-mail us at [e-mail].”

Nadzri said the latest enforcement strategy, which would be employed throughout Ops Hari Raya Aidilfitri 2017 until July 2, was aimed at heightening would-be offenders’ awareness that they could be caught.

“We want our road users to be more courteous and law-abiding.

“If effective, we will make this WhatsApp complaint channel a permanent feature,” he said, adding that JPJ had received 22 complaints up to Thursday.

Asked how JPJ would determine the authenticity of the information and photographs it received, Nadzri said that all complaints would be referred to PLUS Malaysia Bhd and the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission for verification before any action would be taken.

On a related matter, he said 7,229 summonses were issued by JPJ under the Automated Awareness Safety System (Awas), a combination of the Automated Enforcement System (AES) and traffic offence demerit system (Kejara), between June 18 and 22.

PLUS managing director Datuk Azman Ismail, who was also present, said there was a 40% increase in the number of vehicles plying the expressway this season.

“Figures recorded on the fifth day of Ops Hari Raya Aidilfitri 2017 show that 2.1 million motorists had used the expressway compared with 1.5 million motorists during the first five days of last year’s operations.

“The number of accidents has also increased by 30% from 150 last year to 195 this year, as did the number of deaths – from eight to 10 victims,” he said, adding that seven of the 10 were motorcyclists.

Azman added that the temporary unavailability of Touch ’n Go credit top-up at tollbooths has helped reduce congestion at toll plazas nationwide.