A road safety expert has suggested instalment-based payment options as a way to address the persistent problem of unpaid summonses. Speaking to NST, Universiti Putra Malaysia Road Safety Research Centre head associate professor Dr Law Teik Hua said allowing motorists to pay fines in manageable instalments would directly address affordability issues, particularly among lower-income groups.
“By providing standardised and widely announced instalment payments, we confront head-on the ability-to-pay issue. It converts a non-affordable lump sum into a manageable and consistent outlay,” he explained.
“This approach says: we understand your financial constraints and will help you pay, but the commitment remains non-negotiable. It combines empathy with toughness, which is essential for effective enforcement,” he added.
Law also noted that such a system must be paired with firm enforcement, which may include automatic penalties for defaulting such as freezing road tax or driving licence renewals. “The issue is also about enforcement. If actual punishment is absent, no rational person, regardless of income level, would feel compelled to pay. It becomes a form of lottery, where only the unluckiest end up paying,” he said, adding that inconsistent enforcement contributes to a culture in which fines are seen as optional.
Law’s suggestion comes after it was reported that the road transport department managed to collect RM93.51 million in outstanding summonses from motorists since a 50% discount was offered from November 1, 2025. However, this represents just a small fraction of the RM1.42 billion in outstanding summonses still owed.
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NO! That will make the offenders more retarded
Another stupid “expert”. Dont have the money to pay summons? Then dont break the law.
what’s next? bank loans?
come on, unpaid summons can result in license suspension. just do that instead of giving these offenders so many excuses.
Instalment is a method to encourage people to buy a product. Are these people trying encouraging offenders to make more offenses? Summonses are supposed to punish them. If they can’t pay, they will need to spend less or don’t don’t make traffic offences at all.
People are trying to make house arrest a norm.
Don”t ever break the rule, you have to pay nothing. – Not a road safety expert
ptptn allow payment by installment also many defaulters wont pay even a single sen .
Another UPM professor with ideas that deserve no credit mention. The whole idea of law is to curb incorrect behaviour. The affordability issue is the consequence of not abiding the law. The fine is the punitive action taken to teach a lesson!
Please. The solution is greater AND consistent enforcement to force a behavioural change!
next they will suggest banks to provide loans to offenders
What utter rubbish is this, Mr Quek Professor..instalments?
Hello,a traffic saman is not hire purchase thing.
Either u pay or u face the rule of law.
Yesterday,there was a dude has his Lambo disita,due to no road tax and insurance.These rich idiots can afford a Lambo,but cant afford road tax and insurance.What BS is this.
it wont work. ptptn does offers installments and yet most people dont pay . the only way is to punish and enforce strict harsh law.
this expert gives stupid suggestion and can see through his so called expertise. The government is not obliged to do anything to suit or please the offenders. their role is to enforce the law and punish the offenders.
Expert? What garbage expert? Go flush your head in the toilet bowl. Unpaid summons shd double up if fail to settle within 14days n, double up again shd u failed again the nx 14 days.