New demerit system and AWAS may be postponed

PETALING JAYA: The new Kejara and Automated Enforcement Awareness System (AWAS) may not be launched next month but rather in August.
Sources told theSun that the new demerit system may only be up and running after the Hari Raya festive season.
"Road Transport Department (RTD) just concluded its public feedback on Kejara end of March. Next step is to amend the Road Transport Act 1987 in Dewan Rakyat after Transport Ministry fine tuning the final details," he said.
The source said the lengthy process should also include the time to be taken for further deliberation in Dewan Negara.
Checks by theSun have revealed that the tabling for Kejara and amendment to the Act has yet to be included in the order paper of Dewan Rakyat for the current sitting.
Dewan Rakyat sitting will be adjourned on Thursday while the next sitting will be held for eight days from May 16 to May 26.
Last Friday, RTD director-general Datuk Ismail Ahmad had stated that preparation was underway to table the new amendment to the Act in Parliament.
Ismail also concurred that the new Kejara and AWAS would be most unlikely to take place next month.
"There are still few things that we have to go through. We still need to table it in Dewan Rakyat either at the current sitting or the next," he said on Friday, after delivering the director-general's message in conjunction with the RTD 70th year celebration at its headquarters.
When asked the definite date for Kejara launching, Ismail said: "I can't say any further since this matter involves ministerial level and tabling process in Parliament."
Two weeks ago, Deputy Transport Minister Datuk Aziz Kaprawi had stated that the target month for the new demerit system and AWAS – an integration of Automated Enforcement System and Kejara – would be launched in May.
"The system will be implemented immediately (after the amendment is passed) because the infrastructure is up and ready. Hopefully, it will implemented in May," he had said at Parliament lobby on March 17.