| Faza Suraj |
THE Malaysian travel ordeal is continuing for Bruneians following the tightening of motor vehicle rules by the Royal Malaysia Police (RMP).
A total of 1,778 drivers of Brunei-registered vehicles were ordered to pull over and pay fines for past offences on the first day of the operation on Thursday, an official said. Of these, 1,699 drivers settled the fines, he added.
The massive crackdown targets Brunei vehicles at strategic locations near the Brunei-Miri and Kuala Lurah control posts.
The roadblocks are continuing to inspect non-Malaysian vehicles passing through the Asean Bridge near the Sarawak border for traffic violations occurred between 2013 and 2015.
Alexon Naga, Sarawak’s State Traffic Police Chief of the RMP, said 90 per cent of the offenders are people residing in Brunei and the remaining are Malaysians driving Brunei-registered vehicles.
“However, if they have cases prior to 2013 in the database, they are also required to settle the fines,” he added.
There have been allegations over the letter format of Brunei vehicles which is similar to that of the vehicles registered in Selangor such as BAA, BAB accompanied by one to four digit numerals. The similarity may cause confusion and may lead to mistakes being made by the system, some pointed out.
Police personnel instructing a vehicle to pull over for checks at one of the roadblocks. – FAZA SURAJ
Dismissing the allegations, the deputy superintendent said the data recorded are separated into categories for locals and for foreigners and are stored based on the locations.
Some Bruneian drivers said they have been issued summons for offences they have not committed pointing out that they have not even exited the Sultanate on the dates of the alleged violations. They also mentioned that cars that have been recently bought were issued summons for ‘violations’ prior to the purchase of the vehicles.
“Drivers must produce documents such as history of travel and for new vehicles proof of purchase and blue card summons at the designated counters or police stations in the cities, while travelling to Malaysia,” Alexon Naga said.
Present at a press conference held at the checkpoint set up in Limbang was the Mahamad Akhir bin Darus, Federal Traffic Chief of RMP Senior Assistant Commissioner, said of the total offenders, 354 were fined at Limbang with the rest at other locations.
“Drivers from Brunei who have outstanding summons are advised to settle them at the counters set up nearby the roadblocks,” said Mahamad Akhir while urging them to always check their summons at police stations in the two cities or on the websites www.myeg.com.my and www.rilek.com.my.
The three-day operation is conducted by 15 officials, 32 personnel and two civil servants of Bukit Aman RMP Headquarters in Kuala Lumpur with the help of police officials from Miri and Limbang.
“Similar operations will be conducted to inspect vehicles coming from Singapore and Thailand,” he added.