Transport Ministry says it was not consulted over traffic fines reduction

Star: KUALA LUMPUR: The Transport Ministry, tasked with reducing road accidents and improving road safety, said it was not consulted over the reduction of traffic fines.
"I was never consulted by the police on the matter. I only knew about it through the media," Transport Minister Datuk Seri Chan Kong Choy said while speaking to reporters at the Parliament lobby here on Tuesday.
Chan said he would ask for an explanation and a briefing from the police to find out more about the matter.
He had also directed the Road Safety Department director-general Suret Singh to find out if the reduction of fines would affect the ministry's road safety campaign.
"I really want to know the reasons behind this major decision and there has to be some consultation. The police is a very important partner to the ministry in reducing road accidents," he said.
The Road Safety Department, which comes under the ministry, was set up in 2004 to improve road safety in Malaysia.
One of its functions is to coordinate with the various government departments and agencies, including the police, to implement measures to reduce road accidents.
On Monday, the police announced that traffic fines have been reduced by as much as RM200 to encourage offenders to settle their fines as well as discourage motorists from offering bribes.
Chan said he was worried that the reduction of traffic fines might send a wrong message to motorists, especially hardcore traffic offenders.
“I am worried that hardcore traffic offenders might think that with the reduction of fines, there will be further relaxations of rules,” he said.
He said traffic fines were meant more to deter motorists from breaking rules and not meant to be income for the Government.
Earlier in the Dewan Rakyat, Muar MP Razali Ibrahim asked if the move would affect the road safety campaign and if it would actually deter motorists from committing traffic offences.