KUALA LUMPUR: The Automated Awareness Safety System (Awas) will be implemented by this May, said Deputy Transport Minister Datuk Abdul Aziz Kaprawi
He told reporters in the parliament lobby that the system is a combination of the Kejara demerit point system and the Automated Enforcement System (AES) camera system.
"The system would be implemented soon after the Road Transport Act is amended.I will be tabling the amendment in Parliament next month and I hope for it to be implemented by May," he added.
Abdul Aziz said he was confident that the system would be implemented immediately after the amendment is passed in Parliament as the infrastructure needed for it is ready.
He explained that the Awas system will serve to discipline road users and would integrate the demerit points system with the AES cameras nationwide.
"Those who have collected 20 demerit points will first be issued a warning. When it reaches 40 points, their license will be suspended and at 60 points, their licence will be cancelled," he said.
He added that the ministry is looking to install more AES cameras nationwide as they presently only have 14 cameras.
"We have to put more AES cameras in all states especially in accident prone areas, and we will engage local leaders to identify suitable locations," he said, adding that there were more than 100 accident prone areas nationwide.We will install the cameras along highways, federal roads as well as at traffic lights," he added.
Abdul Aziz also said that current summonses held by traffic offenders would not affect their demerit points after the amendment is implemented.
Earlier, Abdul Aziz said during the Parliament Question and Answer session that the decision to introduce the system was intended to reduce the number of repeat offenders.
He said those with a higher income usually would not face problems paying off their summonses and compounds, adding that this caused them to disregard traffic laws.
