Enforcement of rear seat belt from Jan 1

Yet another flip-flop decision by our talent-subsidised leaders of our great nation. This is the decisiveness of our policy makers. Promises are meant to be broken and they follow this saying to the hilt. One day they will tell there will be no increase in petrol prices before August, then they announced a hefty increase the next day. One day petrol cannot be sold to foreigners then a few days later, they can.
When asked if he has a new girlfriend, a few months after his wife whom he loved very dearly died, he denied it, then within a few weeks he announced he was getting married.
Our leaders' mentality is such that only they can increase prices, whereas the public cannot. Ducks, chicken rice, bus transport to Singapore, to name a few has already gone up in price. 5% inflation this year? Hiked-up hope!
Umno is in desperate need of think tanks - intellectuals who can put some sense into them. The poor will be desperate. To the rich, it's just a matter of a few hundred ringgit more only. They will make that back. They just need to pass the buck to the consumer. Those living on the edge will definitely feel the pain.
Increasing petrol prices without any back-up plan is exasperation. Our public transport system is in desperate need of overhaul. The economy is due for a strong stimulus at a time when US is in recession. There may be no more easy money for our politicians. It is time for the corrupt to open their eyes to this and leave. It is also time the voters choose their representatives wisely. Vote for the more talented and intellects who are willing to work for the people and country.


Enforcement of rear seat belt from Jan 1
PUTRAJAYA, June 6 — Enforcement of the rear seat belt law will only take effect next January as the advocacy campaign period which starts this month is extended to six months.

Road Safety Department (JKJR) director-general Datuk Suret Singh said the decision to extend the advocacy campaign period was made together by the JKJR, Road Transport Department (JPJ) and Royal Malaysian Police to enhance public awareness on the new ruling.

"Enforcement is important but the impact could be temporary. It is not an inner-driven value but externally enforced. So, when advocacy is used, it (wearing rear seat belts) becomes a culture," he told reporters today.

He said that during the advocacy period, back seat passengers found not wearing seat belts would be advised, given pamphlets and stickers on its importance.

He added that the campaign through the website www.panducermat.org.my also highlighted the experience of passengers who were safe in car accidents because they wore seat belts, besides other aspects of road safety.

"The rate of wearing rear seat belts in this country is still low, that is, between one and four percent, while the JKJR targets to increase it to at least 70 percent within six months."

On the amount of the summons to be imposed, Suret said it would be announced before Jan 1 next year.

"We purposely did not announce this earlier as we do not want the advocacy campaign to deviate and turn into an enforcement campaign. We want to focus on self awareness for a favourable change in attitude towards road safety," said Suret.

He said from next Jan 1, the rear seat belt law would be enforced on all vehicles except those registered before Jan 1, 1995, vehicles registered after this date but were not equipped with the anchorage points for seat belts, and commercial vehicles like taxis and hired cars.

Passenger vehicles with more than eight seats including the driver's and goods vehicles with load weight of more than 3.5 tonnes are also exempted.

Owners of vehicles registered after Jan 1, 1995 and with anchorage points but not equipped with rear seat belts, are given three years from next Jan 1 to fix the seat belts. — Bernama