Some five million vehicles expected on roads during Aidilfitri

KUALA LUMPUR: Some 4.7 million vehicles are expected to hit the roads nationwide in conjunction with Hari Raya Aidilfitri next month, says Bukit Aman.

Its Traffic Investigation and Enforcement Department director, Comm Datuk Mat Kasim Karim, said his department would mobilise 6,559 traffic officers and personnel members at state and district levels to ensure traffic flows smoothly and safely.

"The Raya holiday this year is quite long and many are expected to celebrate in their hometowns after two years of not being allowed to cross borders, in 2020 and last year, when the country was still struggling with a spike in Covid-19 cases," he said today.

Comm Mat Kasim said as with previous years, road safety operation Op Selamat 18 with the theme 'Rumah Selamat, Selamat Sampai Ke Destinasi' would also be conducted from April 29 to May 8.

He said it would focus on the prevention of burglaries as well as minimise the rate of road accidents during the festive season.

"In this Op Selamat 18, the department will focus on Op Motosikal (motorcycles), Op Had Laju (Speed Limit) and Op Perdagangan (trade) which will be carried out in all-out enforcement, where no appeals will be considered to ensure road users comply with the laws," he said.

He added that the department had also done careful planning to ensure that the accident rate could be reduced and minimised by at least 50 per cent.

"Use of department assets such as motorcycles and patrol cars will also be optimised for enforcement duties and 'omnipresent' patrols in hotspots throughout the country," he said.