Overhaul needed for Road Transport Department before it affects Putrajaya, says Utusan

The Road Transport Department recently launched a crackdown on fancy number plates and unapproved headlights. – The Malaysian Insider file pic, November 16, 2014.

The Road Transport Department (RTD) is in dire need of a makeover before its negative and unpopular aura begins to affect Putrajaya, Utusan Malaysia reported today.

This followed a recent statement by RTD director-general Datuk Seri Ismail Ahmad, who claimed that a recent operation on fancy vehicle registration plates was to reduce road fatalities.

Awang Selamat, the pseudonym for the paper's collective editorial team, said because of that, the RTD had become the most unpopular civil department in the eyes of the rakyat.

"This can clearly be seen based on the comments posted on the RTD's social media webpage," Awang wrote.

"Putrajaya needs to intervene immediately and rebrand the RTD before the government becomes affected by the department's negative aura," Awang added.

Awang said the people were angry of Ismail's statement, as it lacked sensitivity and had also become the butt of jokes.

"Ismail mentioned the word death at least four times. Many were astounded that Ismail was speaking coarse words, similar to those used by foreigners from Nepal and Bangladesh."

"Awang can't understand why the head of an important department in the public service cannot converse in a civil and accurate manner."

Ismail had given the interview to a TV station on the recent crackdown on vehicles with fancy number plates, running strobe lights and unapproved high intensity discharge (HID) headlamps.

The nationwide operation began on November 1 with more than 1,500 personnel jointly working with the traffic police and the Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD).

Awang said the RTD's authority was being questioned as Ismail himself did not use a vehicle registration plate that complied with the specifications mentioned.

"Ismail's car has also been issued several traffic summonses. Last Wednesday, it was rumoured that the RTD operation had to be halted," Awang noted.

"That is the problem with the RTD, it is like a yo-yo," Awang said, adding that the issue would not have been blown all out of proportion if Ismail had a better grasp of the national language.

"The message which Ismail is trying to convey to the public is actually quite simple, but was lost in translation due to his poor command of Bahasa Malaysia."

Awang said if Ismail did not have the confidence to speak, he should just refer to a press statement instead of sending out the wrong message.

"Awang is unsure if Ismail has issued a public apology to the people after this incident or perhaps he feels it is just a small matter," Awang said.

Recently, many of the statements and announcements by the RTD had invited controversy and caused some anxiety among the people.

Last week, Segambut MP Lim Lip Eng questioned the registration plates of vehicles belonging to ministers and deputy ministers as it too did not comply with RTD specifications.

Lim said the RTD had already set the guidelines for the alphabets, size and spacing so that it did not confuse the department's enforcement officers.

Lim invited RTD to conduct a roadblock at the entrance of Parliament to catch the culprits, and volunteered to participate in the operation.

- TMI