Thousands of Singapore motorists were booked for unpaid summons and fined close to RM200,000 (S$64,333) in a 48-hour crackdown in Malaysia.
According to the Malay Mail Online, nearly 5,710 foreign vehicles were checked in traffic police operation on Friday and Saturday and almost 3,000 Singaporean motorists were issued summons.
The police confiscated vehicles if the fines were not paid on the spot. The vehicles were returned only after the owners paid up. One of the major offences was speeding.
DSP Bakri Zainal Abidin, Bukit Aman traffic police investigation and enforcement (operation) officer, said Singaporeans were way ahead of motorists from Indonesia, Brunei, and Thailand when it comes to not paying summons. They were responsible for most of the 275,663 unpaid summons.
The authorities found that Singaporeans have accumulated 184,024 unpaid summons and 3,423 arrest warrants since 2010.
DSP Bakri added that some motorists test drive their cars on the four-lane highways after getting them tuned up. On the other hand, there are some who go on "adventure rides" in cars such as Lamborghini and Ferrari that sometimes result in accidents.
"Their mentality against Malaysian traffic regulations must change as we are determined to keep roads safe," he told Malay Mail Online.
The authorities confirmed that police operation, named Op Saman Tertunggak Warganegara Asing (OSTWA), would be conducted regularly to reduce such cases. The operation would involve advanced high-definition camera technology (iCOP) and MCOPS (Mobile Compound Online Pay System).
The reports showed that several checks were done at Gelang Patah Rest and Relaxation stop near the Second Link, the Pandan Rest and Relaxation stop at Eastern Dispersal Link (EDL) and Km2 of Jalan Tebrau.
Bukit Aman Traffic Investigation and Enforcement director SAC Mahamad Akhir Darus said the entire operation was targeted to remind the foreign drivers about road safety, and to settle outstanding fines in case of penalties.
Darus also said that this no one can escape this ongoing operation. The traffic offenders can pay their fines through government portals www.myeg.com.my and www.rilek.com.my.
