Liow: No double jeopardy arising from Kejara and Awas systems

KUALA LUMPUR: The implementation of the offence demerit system (Kejara) and Automatic Awareness System (Awas) is done according to the stipulated road transport laws, said the Transport Ministry.
Transport Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai stressed that there isn't any element of 'double jeopardy' as claimed by Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah) lawyer Faiz Fadzil because the act actually allows them to issue a compound and impose demerit points on traffic offenders.
"There is no double jeopardy, because the Act states we can issue a summons and demerit points.
"Double jeopardy is only when you are charged in court twice for the same offence, which is not the case here. Offenders will only be charged in court once for an offence," he explained after officiating the Klang Valley Double Track (KVDT) project today.
Liow was responding to a statement by Faiz who had claimed that both Kejara and Awas goes against the principle of legal justice as enshrined in Article 7(2) of the Federal Constitution.
Faiz said the act of punishing road users twice is unfair as under the Kejara and Awas, anyone who was issued with a compound would also receive demerit points.
Liow then called on the public not to be confused by the matter as he had instructed the Road Transport Department (RTD) director-general to provide a clearer explanation on the matter.
"Although information on this is already on the JPJ's website, more explanation is still needed as more frequent briefings would enable the public to understand the system easily," he said.
He also said that Kejara was currently used on two offences - traffic and speeding - and that the demerit points are solely on the Awas.
Kejara and the Automatic Enforcement System (AES), jointly form Awas. AES is a network of cameras capturing road users who break the speed limit.
On how road users can check their demerit points, Liow said the information was emailed to offenders.
"After the online system has been upgraded, all demerit points can be checked online," he said.