KUALA LUMPUR: Transport Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai has advised road users to check with the RTD website to find out if their licence has been slapped with demerit points.
"We don't want to penalise anybody (unnecessarily), but we need to have this strict enforcement so that it becomes a culture, and it will actually enhance road safety culture among Malaysians," he said after launching the Belt and Road Initiative: Malaysia-China Cultural and Arts Year programme at Wisma MCA here yesterday.
The first phase of the demerit point scheme, under the Automated Awareness Safety System (AWAS), went into effect on April 1, with the aim of catching habitual traffic offenders in the act.
Under the system, road offenders will be slapped with demerit points with every offence committed, and ultimately face having their licences suspended or cancelled.
On April 15 (yesterday), 23 road offences were added to the scheme, with enforcement now fully implemented.
Among the new offences are using handphones while driving, failure to fasten safety belts, failure to stop at police checkpoints, and overloading of commercial vehicles.
Two main offences focused on under the system, however, are speeding caught on the AES (Automated Enforcement System) and running red lights. -- BERNAMA