CUEPACS Wants Government-Employed Drivers Exempted From Certain Traffic Rules

The union for public and civil servant employees is asking for government-employed drivers to be exempted from JPJ’s KEJARA demerit points system and the upcoming Automated Awareness Safety System (AWAS) speed cameras, formerly known as AES.

According a report by the News Straits Times quoting Datuk Azih Muda, the president of Congress of Unions of Employees in the Public and Civil Services (CUEPACS), the union wants the government to consider granting immunity to some 50,000 drivers currently hired by 700 ministries and government agencies.

"Sometimes or most of the time they are forced to beat the speed limit for the sake of carrying out their duties. We feel it isn't right for them to be punished and have their licence suspended," he told the News Straits Times after concluding a meeting with JPJ’s director-general Datuk Nadzri Siron today.

The report also went to say that Azih did stress that CUEPACS is not against the implementation of AWAS, but is appealing to the government to consider exemptions for civil servants who are hired as drivers.

Earlier reports have indicated that the controversial AES speed camera system will soon be merged with the KEJARA demerit point system, and will be known as AWAS. Under the KEJARA system, drivers who accumulate 60 demerit points will have their driving licence revoked.