This article will highlight 2 interesting cases which I happened to read recently.
Cases which are connected with the driving school industry, such as bribery and the non settlements of traffic summons are obviously of interest to the public. With this mind, a mention will therefore be made to relate to readers two such tales.
One concerns a bribery case. In Johor Bahru, it was reported, 3 members of a driving school family, the father, the wife and a son, pleaded not guilty. The above three persons were charged in separate Session Court.
And what were they charged for?
It was reported that the trio were charged for asking, conspiring and finally accepting a bribe from a driving school student as an inducement to pass a computerized test for learner driver licenses.
For your information, a potential student who intends to take up a driving course with either a driving school or institute, has first of all pass his Highway Code test. This represents Part I which a student has to undergo.
The above test is conducted in Bahasa Malaysia and English. It is conducted via computers at private owned test centres all across towns.
Examples of such computer centres are MyEG and Speed. The passing mark, unfortunately is rather high, 42 out of 50. Some cannot. Some cannot achieve this.
As a driving instructor of over 40 years experience, I have always advocated Part I, which represents the Highway Code test be made slightly easier. This is to enable most students to get through this part of the test easily. Bribery, will then not be resorted to.
As it is, this blog has received many complaints from readers regarding their inability to pass this undang-undang test.
As an instructor, I’m fully aware why the Road Transport Department insists potential students should know road signs, hand signals and no parking areas as such. They are in fact very important for road safety purposes.
But as one, especially someone from the driving school fraternity, I fully understand student’s predicament. If Highway Code were to be made easier or more relaxed to pass, then the question of having to bribe any party will not arise.
As such, the public will no longer be reading about articles similar to this.
Going back to today’s article, it was reported that a director of a driving school entity, 43, in Larkin near Johor Bahru was charged in the Sessions Court with seeking a bribe of RM450 from his student at 10:25 pm on January 26th, in front of a restaurant.
While his wife, 28, was charged in the same court with conspiring with her husband by sitting for the computer test on behalf of the student at MyEG computer centre in Pasir Gudang at about 4:00 pm on January 27th.
Whereas the son incidentally was charged for conspiring with his father for accepting a bribe at the Stadium Larkin parking lot.
The Sessions Court judge set bail of RM5000 each for the director and his wife while another Sessions Court judge set the bail of RM3000 for the son, who was only 17 when the alleged offense occurred. All three posted bail.
For your information, all three were charged under Section 16 (a) (A) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Act 2009, in which the maximum jail sentence is said to be 20 years imprisonment and a fine 5 times the bribe amount or RM10,000, which is the higher.
It was reported all three of the above case is to be heard on June 4th 2010.
And what about the other interesting tale of which I have been telling you about?
It involves the Road Transport Department (R.T.D.). It has been reported in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, that the above department, it seems, is looking for new ways to deal with the non-settlement of 17 million traffic summons. So said Director-General of the R.T.D., Datuk Solat Mat Hassan.
Offenders, it seems, were issued the above summonses between, believe it or not, 2000 and 2008 by the R.T.D., the police and Kuala Lumpur City Hall (D.B.K.L.).
Datuk Solat further said, the department has to work out new strategies to solve this big problem. It has to be solved. The image of the R.T.D. and other enforcement agencies is at stake,
That’s why the Automated Enforcement System (A.E.S.) in which C.C.T.V. cameras will be used for surveillance has to be launched as soon as possible all across the nation.
Anyway, all drivers be duly advised, your days are actually numbered. When the A.E.S. is implemented, there is no way you can escape paying your summons anymore!
For the time being, what about black listing these stubborn drivers who have failed to settle their outstanding summons totaling RM17 million, Datuk?
Blacklist them!
Don’t allow them to renew their driving licenses and road tax. You are in reality holding the trump card!
Set up road blocks or issue warrant of arrest against them. As a responsible citizen of this country, I have no choice but to make such recommendations to the R.T.D. These suggestions may very well incur the wrath of many readers and drivers. But come to think of it, there is no other choice.
As responsible adults, drivers should in fact settle their summonses quickly. And definitely not settling one’s summons since 2000 is no way to act as a responsible driver.
If you happen to be amongst those categorised as not having paid your summons for so long, on behalf of the Director-General, frankly I wish to reiterate, “I am ashamed of you!”
In my opinion, you actually have no right to drive at all. Own up the fact that you have committed a traffic offense. Pay it up quickly like a gentleman, as they say.
The truth hurts, as the saying goes. But, it has to be said. I’m sure you’ll like people to consider you a gentleman, don’t you? So, go settle your summons today itself.
In doing so, you’ll save the poor Datuk lots of sleepless nights. He will, in future, I believe, be doing a lot of good and beneficial work for all of us.
Hi Cikgu,
When i fail by 3 marks, is it possible that I could register again at the computer centre by myself without contacting my driving school since it’s cheaper to pay the registration fee without the additional payment for them to send me cos i know where the centre is and its more convenient that i go there myself? Can i pay on the spot, register and get the test done that day itself?
Each computer test centre have its own rules and regulations. Ask those manning the counter for your answers. Hope you’ll succeed in your quest.