Crackdown on rear seat belt offenders

New Straits Times, 1 January 2009

KUALA LUMPUR: Back-seat passengers must from now buckle up or will be issued with a compound fine of RM300.

A spokesman of the Road Transport Department said enforcement officers would start a nationwide crackdown on those who violated the rear seat belt ruling, which took effect from 12.01am today.

Under the latest ruling, offenders above the age of 17 will be individually fined.

On the other hand, if rear-seat passengers under the age of 17 are not buckled up, the car driver will be fined for the offence.

Rear-seat passengers who do not wear seat belts will be fined except for:
- vehicles registered before Jan 1, 1995;

- vehicles registered after Jan 1, 1995 but without anchorage points;

- commercial vehicles, including taxis and rental cars;

- vehicles with more than eight passengers (not including the driver);

- goods vehicles with a maximum load limit of 3.5 tonnes; and,

- the fourth rear-seat passenger in a car with three seat belts at the rear.

From July, the RM300 compound fine will be increased to a maximum fine of RM2,000, or up to a year's jail.

The new rules are contained in the amendments to the Motor Vehicles (Safety Seat Belt) Rules 1977, under the Road Transport Act 1987.

Ahead of the midnight deadline last night, the RTD mounted a nationwide operation to nab errant motorists in conjunction with the countdown to the new year.

A total of 500 officers were posted at roadblocks nationwide under Ops Ambang Tahun Baru 2009, which started at 10pm. They also inspected vehicles for illegal high intensity discharge (HID) lights and other offences.

In the Klang Valley, two major roadblocks were placed at the Jalan Duta-Kuala Lumpur and Batu 3 toll plazas on the Federal Highway.

Penang ferry must buck up

New Straits Times, 2008/12/22

GEORGE TOWN: Penang Port Sdn Bhd (PPSB), which operates the ferry service, has been instructed to adhere to the standing operating procedure and keep six ferries running daily from 7am to 11pm and beyond if necessary.

Penang Port Commission (PPC) board chairman Tan Cheng Liang said she had informed the ferry service's operations manager of the board's decision.

"We have eight ferries, one will be in the dock for servicing and the other on standby.

"The PPC board has instructed PPSB to operate all the six ferries and if after 11pm there is still a long queue they should continue operating until the congestion is cleared.

"We have received countless complaints about the PPSB ferry service, especially during school holidays, weekends and public holidays," she said during a RM50,000 cheque presentation by the state MCA to the Methodist Boys' School at the school's premises here.
The funds are for the school to construct a three-storey building for Form Six students.

Tan said it was PPSB's social obligation to provide the service, even though the company was operating at a loss of about RM13 million annually.

She also urged PPSB staff to help control traffic at Pengkalan Weld, where motorists often jumped queue.

"The holding area at the Raja Tun Uda ferry terminal on the island has been reduced to half due to the Rapid Penang buses being parked there.

"The understanding for loaning the holding area to RapidPenang was that it was to be temporary but the buses have been there for two years now.

"Unless the holding problem is solved, we will continue to face traffic congestion at the ferry terminal area," said Tan, who is also a member of the MCA central working committee.

Tan said commuters who were facing problems or wanted to lodge complaints should call the PPSB hotlines at 04-2102363 (Penang Island) or 04-3102377 (Butterworth) or email the board at penangport.gov.my.