(Petaling Jaya, Wednesday): Transport Minister Datuk Seri Chan Kong Choy should prove that he means what he says that traffic fines are not meant to generate income for the government but to deter motorists from breaking rules. If so then he should welcome the reduction by demanding that the reduced fines be made retrospective till January 2006 and refunds be given to those who had paid the higher rate earlies.

Chan had expressed unhappiness with the move because he fears hardcore traffic offenders would think that there would be further relaxation of rules. But DAP suspects that his real unhappiness was that the police did not consult him over the reduction of traffic fines. After all did the traffic fines prevent Ministers including himself from collecting tens and even hundreds of summons for various traffic offenses such as speeding and parking offences?

Chan should not be surprised at the police’s actions as the Internal Security and Public Order Director Commissioner Datuk Mustafa Abdullah’s  had said that they  were not answerable to the ministry and had the powers to reduce traffic fines if necessary. Further Chan should accept the fact that even though he is a Minister, he is a MCA Minister not an UMNO Minister. There is a real difference between an UMNO and MCA Minister just as there is a difference between a Malay and non-Malay Chief Minister.

DAP agrees that this move would also help drivers who are struggling with the high cost of living as fuel prices soar. Even though traffic offenders would have fewer reasons to offer bribes to traffic policemen, DAP is not confident that this would reduce corruption as long as the government does not have the political will to fight corruption.

As fines for serious non-compoundable offences such as fatal accidents, drunk or dangerous driving and illegal racing remain unchanged, there is no reason for Chan to behave petulantly and pout just because he was not consulted. In the larger public interest he should demand instead that the police refund those who had paid earlier and therefore missed out on the lower traffic fines. And to improve road safety increase the list of non-compoundable offences especially those responsible for road accidents causing injury or death.

(06/09/2006)