Latest news with #Azmil
The Star
10-07-2025
- The Star
Summonses issued over failure to provide second driver
JOHOR BARU: A total of 44 summonses have been issued by the Johor Road Transport Department (JPJ) to buses for failing to provide a second driver on journeys exceeding 300km. State director Azmil Zainal Adnan said most of the summonses were issued during enforcement operations carried out in conjunction with festive seasons. 'We also conduct routine checks at bus terminals and roadblocks to ensure operators comply with the ruling. 'It is compulsory for buses travelling more than 300km or for over four hours to have a second driver. 'We will not hesitate to take action against those who fail to do so,' he said in an interview. Azmil said among the common excuses given by bus drivers were that they were using a replacement bus at the time. 'They would claim that their actual bus had broken down. 'Another excuse was that the company they work for did not provide a second driver,' he said, adding that JPJ would not entertain such excuses. He urged drivers and bus operators to comply with the ruling under the Road Traffic Rules 1959, which were put in place to ensure the safety of both passengers and drivers. 'They should not take this matter lightly as it concerns public safety. 'Failure to comply not only endangers the lives of passengers but also their own. 'This is important because without a second driver, the risk of accidents due to fatigue and drowsiness is much higher,' he said. Azmil also said operators should take the ruling seriously in view of Malaysia's high rate of road accidents. In March, The Star reported that one person dies in a road accident in Malaysia every one hour and 56 minutes. According to the Global Burden of Disease 2024 report, Malaysia recorded the second highest road fatality rate among Asean nations in 2021. The country recorded 23.7 road deaths per 100,000 people, trailing behind Thailand, which topped the list at 29.7.
New Straits Times
11-06-2025
- New Straits Times
Unlicensed driving tops list in Johor RTD festive crackdown
JOHOR BARU: Some 5,744 traffic summonses were issued by the Johor Road Transport Department (RTD) enforcement officers during a week-long operation held in conjunction with the recent Hari Raya Aidiladha celebrations. Driving without a valid licence topped the list of offences during the June 4 to 10 operations, followed closely by 1,163 cases of expired road tax and 1,021 motorists caught without insurance coverage. The enforcement operation targeted high-risk road offences and unsafe vehicles to reduce accidents and fatalities during the festive period. State RTD director Azmil Zainal Adnan said 45,395 vehicles were inspected across the state, with 5,573 P22 notices issued for various offences under the Road Transport Act 1987 and Land Public Transport Act 2010. The P22 notice, is an order for inspection involving five main offences, namely failing to comply with traffic lights, driving on emergency lanes, using mobile phones while driving, overtaking at double lines and speeding. Eighty-three vehicles were seized after it was found to be unfit for road use, including 66 motorcycles, nine cars, and eight other vehicles. RTD also recorded 169 summonses for various serious traffic violations. Azmil said motorists continued to flout traffic laws by queue-jumping, overtaking on double lines, running red lights, abusing emergency lanes and using mobile phones while driving, despite repeated warnings, awareness campaigns and road safety programmes. "Failure to wear helmets and seat belts was another common offence flagged during the operation. "These reckless behaviours continue to be key contributors to fatal accidents," said Azmil in a statement yesterday. He said the non-compliance to the law is worrying trend especially among private vehicle users, adding RTD will not compromise with individuals or companies who blatantly flout road safety laws. Enforcement efforts will continue to ensure a safer road environment for all.
New Straits Times
05-06-2025
- Automotive
- New Straits Times
No turnbacks for Singapore cars without VEP, but fines before exit
JOHOR BARU: Singapore-registered vehicles without a valid Vehicle Entry Permit (VEP) will not be turned back at Johor's land checkpoints in an effort to prevent unnecessary congestion, the state Road Transport Department (RTD) said. Its director, Azmil Zainal Adnan, said enforcement officers will allow Singapore-registered motorists to pass through both land checkpoints at Bangunan Sultan Iskandar (BSI) and Kompleks Sultan Abu Bakar (KSAB), even without the mandatory VEP tag. "Motorists will not be stopped or turned around at either Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) complex, as doing so would severely disrupt traffic flow," he told the New Straits Times when contacted today. "However, vehicles without a VEP tag will be flagged in the system, and the motorists will be fined RM300. They must settle the compound before leaving the country." To avoid additional congestion, he said the RTD will set up payment counters away from the BSI and KSAB exits, allowing Singaporeans to settle their fines before returning to the republic. Azmil said the decision aims to strike a balance between enforcement and practicality, especially as thousands of vehicles cross the border daily. "We want to avoid bottlenecks at both checkpoints. At the same time, the law will still be enforced, just at a more practical point in the process," he said. He urged all Singaporean vehicle owners to expedite their VEP applications and to avoid using unverified third-party agents, some of whom have been charging exorbitant service fees. The VEP requirement, mandated under Malaysian law, is part of efforts to better regulate and monitor foreign vehicles entering the country. Singapore-registered motorists risk being fined RM300 from July 1 if they fail to register and activate their VEP before entering Malaysia, the Transport Ministry warned yesterday. Its Minister, Anthony Loke Siew Fook, said full enforcement of the VEP requirement would commence after a phased rollout that began in October last year, targeting all foreign vehicles, especially those from Singapore. Offenders must settle the fine before being allowed to exit Malaysia. VEP requirement starting 1 July ," he said, adding that summonses will be issued to foreign vehicle owners who have not registered or activated their VEP.
Free Malaysia Today
25-04-2025
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
Ex-judge sent to prison as 6-month jail term for graft reinstated
Former sessions court judge Azmil Muntapha Abas was taken to Kajang prison after proceedings to begin serving his sentence immediately. PUTRAJAYA : A former judge convicted of corruption was sent to prison today after the Court of Appeal reinstated his six-month jail term and the RM25,000 fine imposed by the Shah Alam sessions court. A three-member panel chaired by Justice Nazlan Ghazali unanimously set aside the Shah Alam High Court's decision to reduce Azmil Muntapha Abas's prison sentence to just one day, and his fine to RM12,000. Nazlan said that Azmil, a former sessions court judge, was convicted of a serious criminal offence and had committed the wrongdoing as a civil servant. He added that the offence had, among others, eroded public trust in the judiciary and denied Malaysians their right to an efficient public service. 'After carefully reviewing the appeal records, we find that the trial judge had duly considered both the mitigating and aggravating factors before passing down the sentence. 'The trial judge's decision was proportionate, fair, and just,' said Nazlan, who was joined on the bench by Justices Zaini Mazlan and Wan Farid Wan Salleh. Azmil was taken to Kajang prison after proceedings to begin serving his sentence immediately. Azmil was convicted in 2022 of receiving a RM5,000 bribe from a person whom he knew was connected with his official function, involving the court proceedings of six accused in criminal cases in 2018. Azmil, who was the presiding judge at the Kuala Kubu Baharu sessions court, slapped the six with only a fine after receiving the bribe. He received the money on May 10, 2018 via a bank account at Maybank, Jalan Meru, Klang. In January last year, the High Court reduced his jail sentence to one day and his fine to RM12,000, but rejected his appeal to set aside his conviction. 'High Court wrong to hold witnesses as swaying the accused' During proceedings today, deputy public prosecutor Farah Ezlin Yusop Khan said the trial judge had considered public interest and the gravity of the offence in meting out the sentence. She argued that the reduced one-day jail term would fail to deter others or reflect the seriousness of the crime committed by a person of such a position. She also contended that the High Court was mistaken in finding that the third and fourth prosecution witnesses played a major role in influencing Azmil into committing the crime. The witnesses were a police inspector and Shah Alam High Court deputy registrar, at the time the offence was committed. Farah contended that the former judge was well aware of his actions. 'The crucial part was that before (the deputy registrar) passed the money to the respondent, the latter did ask if he could pocket RM1,000 (from the proceeds),' she said, adding that they referred to the RM1,000 as 'biji'. 'He said: 'There are six 'biji', I shall take one 'biji'.' She added that, as a judge, Azmil was supposed to walk the talk and be a role model so that justice would not only be done, but be seen to be done. Azmil's counsel, former Court of Appeal judge Mohtarudin Baki, said the argument of public interest and upholding the judiciary's integrity was only rhetoric since no action had been taken against the third and fourth prosecution witnesses. 'In fact, the latter was promoted to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission as a deputy public prosecutor. I'm sorry to say this, but the submission of upholding the integrity of the government service is only rhetoric here,' he said. He argued that the one-day prison sentence was not a mere slap on the wrist as Azmil's career of 17 years had been destroyed and the RM12,000 fine was a high amount. 'The feeling of shame and regret, as well as losing his confidence, are already severe punishments,' he said.
