SHAH ALAM: A massive revamp is needed to rescue the largely failed Kejara or demerit points system for traffic offences, says Transport Minister Anthony Loke.
Under the current mechanism, demerit points are only chalked up after traffic offenders settle their summonses.
“We need a major revamp. The problem, however, is that many people don’t pay the summons.
“The Kejara system is a failure as we are taking the wrong approach to things,” Loke told a press conference here yesterday where he affirmed that the system will be overhauled rather than jettisoned.
“Currently, demerits are only given after a summons is paid but when they don’t pay, the demerit isn’t issued,” he said about the demerit system that was introduced in 2017.
Kejara is a mechanism for assigning demerit points to drivers who commit scheduled offences under the Road Transport Act 1987 and relevant regulations.
A total of 20 traffic offences, including drink driving and not using a seat belt, have been listed under the system.
Separately, Loke said any decision to allow tour buses to be regulated by the Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry (Motac) must be approved by the Cabinet, though he himself does not object to the proposal.
“I have no issue and also informed the minister, Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing, that I have no objections.
“I told him that if he can guarantee safer tourist bus travels, I am more than happy to surrender it back to his ministry.
“However, it must be approved by the Cabinet,” he said about the jurisdiction over tour buses, which was given to the now-defunct Land Public Transport Commission in 2010.
Loke added there will be implications to Motac’s proposal, noting that it affects enforcement measures and relevant manpower.
“When it comes to creating positions, these matters are also not under my purview as Transport Minister, but instead, the Public Service Department.
“While I have no objections, my condition is that the headcount of Transport Ministry enforcement officials cannot be reduced if the move materialises,” he said after Tiong urged for his ministry to be given back the authority in overseeing tourism vehicles.
On another matter, Loke said heavy vehicle operators also have the responsibility of conducting background checks on drivers.
“When an incident happens, everyone blames the authorities, but companies can actually do background checks. It’s not like there are no avenues,” he said.
According to Loke, prospective employers can key in the person’s identification card number into either the police or Road Transport Department’s system to find out how many summonses they have clocked.
