Bill enabling demerit point system passed

Data base between the Road Transport Department (RTD) and other enforcement agencies will also be upgraded, Dewan Negara told.

KUALA LUMPUR: The Dewan Negara today passed two amendment bills namely the Road Transport Bill 2016 and the Gas Supply Bill 2016.

Deputy Transport Minister Ab Aziz Kaprawi in winding up debate on the Road Transport (Amendment) Bill 2016 said the bill was aimed at empowering enforcement agencies to carry out their duties.

The Bill among others amended the Road Transport Act 1987 to strengthen enforcement under Act 333 by expanding the existing powers of traffic wardens, mayor, officers or persons in the City Hall and Putrajaya Corporation.

The Bill, passed by Dewan Rakyat on May 26, was also aimed at improving the implementation and effectiveness of the demerit point system to prevent traffic offenders from repeating such offences.

Ab Aziz said the data base between the Road Transport Department (RTD) and other enforcement agencies would also be upgraded and be more efficient based on the agencies involved so far.

“The RTD data base is connected directly to the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL), police, Shah Alam City Council and Petaling Jaya City Council. It is integrated to store and review records of offenders.”

On the issue of private vehicle escorts, Ab Aziz clarified that RTD can detain vehicles which displayed or possessed assets such as sirens as it was against the law.

Earlier, Senator Shahanim Mohd Yusof, when debating on the bill, hoped with the amendments, statistics on road accidents and traffic offenders can be reduced.

She also believed the amendment can boost traffic offender data base between RTD and police to provide information on traffic offences and offenders.

“So far, we have failed to educate errant motorists who’ve contributed to a rise in road accidents due to their negligence.”

Meanwhile, Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Razali Ibrahim, when winding up debate on the Gas Supply (Amendment) Bill 2016, said the amendments
Were aimed at implementing Third Party Access (TPA) to allow gas importers and suppliers, apart from Petronas, to bring in liquefied natural gas (LNG), using facilities at regasification terminals.

The amendment was also aimed at giving equal opportunities and enhance competitiveness among gas suppliers and consumers to enjoy more competitive and better quality services.

Subsection 1(3A) was a new inclusion on safety and technical regulatory provisions in the distribution, retail and usage of gas.

The Senate will sit again tomorrow.

– BERNAMA