Buckle up...

From 1 January onwards (this month), we Malaysians have to Buckle up at the rear. Else, harsh punishments. How harsh? RM300 from January to June. From the 1st of July 2009 onwards, this fine will be upped to RM2,000 and you could even go to jail for up to 1 year.

How unfair, how come they relaxed the ruling of "Using H/p while driving" AND Motorcyclists w/o helmat. IMHO, these offence were more "SERIOUS". You know what?

In so called "Kampung", Most motorcyclists don't wear helmats (of all ages). Eg. of "Kampung" is Kampung Kayu ara, Kampung Cempaka, Sungai way in Petaling Jaya. Hey, those are NOT KAMPUNG. They are mere 3km away from the highway or "Famous" Commercial centres (eg. Kg kayu Ara borders Damansara Jaya and Bandar Utama. Kg. Cempaka's 2km off LDP highway; Sungai way's Beside Federal Highway. Yet the rules are relaxed. The authorities closed one eyes.

Without further ado, here's an article from "The Star Online":

The Star Online

Friday, Jan 16 2009.

‘Many still forget to buckle up’

UNIVERSITI Sains Malaysia (USM) held a one-day road safety campaign on Wednesday to encourage motorists on campus to buckle up in the back seat.

It was organised by the university’s Security Depart-ment and Penang Road Safety Department (JKJR). The officials handed out leaflets and car stickers at the institution’s three main gates in Minden, Penang.

Penang JKJR deputy director Roziah Aziz said: “As the rear seat belt ruling has just been enforced in January, there are many who still forget to buckle up.

“We are here to remind staff members and students of the new ruling and also distribute reflective stickers to motorcyclists to make them more visible on the road.”

She added that 500 stickers had been prepared for USM motorists.

Present to help out in the campaign were USM registrar Azman Abdullah, Secu-rity Department director Norizan Khalid and 60 members of the university’s un-dergraduate police volunteer corps (Suksis).

That's all folks, thanks for having the patience to read this...

References:
1) http://thestar.com.my/metro/story.asp?
file=/2009/1/16/north/3026082&sec=north