Good parents, especially a father should ideally set good examples for their children to follow. In the Malay language, there is a famous saying, “Seperti ketam menyuruh anaknya jalan betul”. Literally translated the above idiom simply means, “A crab asking its young ones to walk straight”.
Well, an impossible task, won’t you agree?
I was at a cross-junction not too long ago, waiting for the traffic lights to turn green. The light on my side was red. And obviously, I stopped and waited.
After all, I do not wish to be caught beating the red traffic light anyway. For those readers who are unaware, it’s a hefty RM300 fine for being indiscipline and committing a traffic light offence.
After all, to a wage earner, and a low one at that, the above sum will go a long way to contributing toward lightening ones expense towards his family.
A person, it is my opinion, opts to ride a motorcycle, not because he likes it. Who on earth would prefer to straddle a motorcycle than to drive a car instead?
As reiterated, riding motors represents something that is very dangerous. With such traffic congestions that clog our roads these days, a motorcycle rider has to constantly be on guard to ensure his safety and that of his pillion rider.
Before I should stray too far way from today’s topic in question, let us go back to my original motive of writing this article.
As I stated earlier on, the traffic lights on my side of the road was red. As I stopped, a few motorcycle riders, some old and some middle aged, came rushing along towards the traffic lights.
Some stopped to observe the traffic lights. A few however gathered speed and sped along dangerously across the road. Traffic on the opposite side were at green. Cars were seen coming out of the junction ahead and turning right.
It was at this junction that I witnessed something which I feel should not have happened.
An Indian motorcycle rider, who was ferrying his teenage son behind him, then came along. Instead of stopping for the traffic light, this man unfortunately choose to ignore it instead. As a responsible father, he should have set a better example for his son to follow.
But he did not, what poor discipline!
I was in reality rather appalled with what the middle aged Indian man did. Immediately after the above incident happened, a traffic police, also riding a motorcycle, also sped across. Malaysian traffic cops as you know are dressed in dark trousers and white uniform.
Before I could utter, “What’s happening”, it suddenly dawned on me that the cop was infact chasing after the Indian motorcycle rider who had chosen to beat the red traffic light then.
By now, the offending motorcycle rider was almost 50 yards away. My contention of the traffic police intention were indeed right. The cop then put out his left hand, signaling the Indian motorcycle rider to stop at the side of the road.
Your guess is as good as mine. The offender has been pulled up for committing a serious and dangerous offence. Serves the rider right.
Readers should know what a traffic policeman’s duty is. They patrol our roads to see to it that Malaysian drivers and riders obey the traffic rules and regulations. It’s for our own safety.
And not let’s come to the question of how one settles a traffic light offence that which has been committed by the Indian motorcycle rider mentioned earlier.
It is my opinion that the police cop would be handling the offender a summons. Will the cop listen to appeals made?
I do not think so. After all, an offender should be taught a lesson.
In this article, no attempts will be made to cut corners or hide anything from readers. Facts are facts. They have to be disclosed.
A person who has committed a traffic offense can of course choose to settle the matter. The motorcycle rider can also very well decide whether he choose to attend court or otherwise. I will however abstain from telling you how the Malaysian traffic offences can be waived or settled. Readers are not so naïve, I believe.
The traffic policeman’s action upon the motorcycle rider who committed the traffic light offence that I witness along the road is something which shall be continued by the police. Motorcycle riders who choose to beat the traffic lights and thereby endanger other road users, should never be condoned. They should be fined.
Those who receive summonses, especially police ones, can now pay such summonses on-line. Early payment (within a week), is available at only RM150. Delay longer, and you will end up paying more.
Talking about summonses, the authorities say 1.7 million traffic offenders are wanted for not settling their summonses. It may not be possible to arrest them all at once, but police say, the time has arrived to take stern action.
The police are going after a few hundred thousand offenders at a time. Operation Cantas Traffic has begun. Those who have summonses to settle, beware! The police, in their road blocks, will be out to get you.
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