KUALA LUMPUR: Enforcement efforts under Ops Selamat 23 in conjunction with this year’s Chinese New Year (CNY) festive period have helped reduce road accidents in Kuala Lumpur by 6% compared to last year’s CNY celebration.
Kuala Lumpur Traffic Investigation and Enforcement Department (JSPT) chief ACP Mohd Zamzuri Mohd Isa said that as of the fifth day of Ops Selamat 23, which began on Jan 28, a total of 639 accidents were recorded, with 13,107 summonses issued.
He said this figure showed a 6% decrease compared to 681 accidents recorded with 14,230 summonses issued during Ops Selamat 21 in conjunction with CNY last February.
“We are still conducting Ops Selamat 23, which will end on Sunday, and we will strive to further reduce the number of accidents.
“I believe many Kuala Lumpur residents will be returning from their hometowns or vacations tomorrow (yesterday).
“The traffic flow in the capital is expected to increase. Therefore, the Kuala Lumpur JSPT will take initiatives to ensure that congestion does not occur,” he told reporters after checking the Ops Motosikal and Ops Samseng Jalanan road safety operations here on Saturday night.
Meanwhile, a total of 1,500 vehicles were inspected in Ops Motosikal and Ops Samseng Jalanan, conducted around Dataran Merdeka, Jalan Loke Yew, Jalan Kuching, Jalan Tun Razak and Jalan Raja Laut, starting from 10pm on Saturday, Bernama reported.
ACP Mohd Zamzuri said the operations, carried out together with the Road Transport Department (JPJ), focused on vehicle modifications that did not comply with specifications and those without road tax and driving licences.
He added that the operation was also conducted to reduce the number of accidents and to prevent the public, especially youths who like to gather in these areas, from performing dangerous motorcycle stunts.
“As a result of the operations, 72 motorcycles were seized for illegal modifications, with 789 summonses issued by the police and 250 summonses by JPJ,” he said.
During the operations, five males aged between 15 and 25 were arrested for various offences, including Section 29(1) of the Minor Offences Act and Section 108 of the Road Transport Act for falsifying vehicle registration numbers, Section 30(3) of the Poisons Act for possessing ketum, and Section 379A of the Penal Code for vehicle theft.
