Malaysia: The Traffic Back-pedal

We have become a nation of back peddlers. Soon we may just have an international event called Tour d' Langkawi for Backpeddlers. Wouldn't that be fun?

This latest backpedal from the government definitely has something to do with the Hulu Selangor by-election. We should the voters in this constituency for helping us removed three measures that will possibly cause more dismay and apprehension among the poor. I am talking abut the exorbitant traffic fines and the increase in age to 17 before you can drive.

Let us read some excerpts from a news item filed at the Malaysia Insider online  web-site today.

"A controversial increase in traffic fines has been withdrawn from amendments to the Road Transport Act 1987 today after it became a campaign issue in the Hulu Selangor by-election.

Minister in the PM's Deaprtment  Nazri Abdul Aziz revealed that the government has withdrawn three amendments for further revisions after objections raised by its backbenchers. But the DAP has made it a campaign issue, saying raising fines from RM300 to RM1,000 would be a burden to the poor.

This is also the latest laws being taken off from Parliament with the first being the Good and Services Tax (GST) Bill on the eve of the current sitting.

“I had received a letter from the BNBBC through chairman Tiong King Sing, stating their objections to the amendments of the Act. I read its contents and have negotiated with the Dewan and also obtained confirmation from the Prime Minister and the Deputy,” Nazri said, referring to the Barisan Nasional Back Benchers Club (BNBBC).[My toes are laughing!]

“So we have decided to withdraw the amendments to the next session to be discussed along with the objections raised by the BNBBC,” he added, saying the Bill will be retabled in the next parliamentary session.
The three amendments which have been dropped are:

1. Compound fines for vehicles, originally priced at RM300, amended up to RM1000 has been withdrawn.

2. The minimum age for obtaining a vehicle licence, proposed to be raised be 17 years has been retracted, keeping it at the present 16 years old.

3. Amendments to allow only JPJ (Road Transport Department) to assign a registration number plate to any vehicle registered under the act have also been withdrawn."

I do not have to list the string of backpedals beginning with the withdrawal of English as the medium of instruction for Science and Maths.