Income-based traffic fines unfair, will create social bias, says expert

Free Malaysia Today

Wan Agyl Wan Hassan says a better option would be for the government to strictly enforce existing laws and improve its Kejara traffic demerit system.  Read More: https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2025/04/03/income-based-traffic-fines-unfair-will-create-social-bias-says-expert/  Free Malaysia Today is an independent, bi-lingual news portal with a focus on Malaysian current affairs.    Subscribe to our channel - http://bit.ly/2Qo08ry   ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Check us out at https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com Follow FMT on Facebook: https://bit.ly/49JJoo5 Follow FMT on Dailymotion: https://bit.ly/2WGITHM Follow FMT on X: https://bit.ly/48zARSW  Follow FMT on Instagram: https://bit.ly/48Cq76h Follow FMT on TikTok : https://bit.ly/3uKuQFp Follow FMT Berita on TikTok: https://bit.ly/48vpnQG  Follow FMT Telegram - https://bit.ly/42VyzMX Follow FMT LinkedIn - https://bit.ly/42YytEb Follow FMT Lifestyle on Instagram: https://bit.ly/42WrsUj Follow FMT on WhatsApp: https://bit.ly/49GMbxW  ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Download FMT News App: Google Play – http://bit.ly/2YSuV46 App Store – https://apple.co/2HNH7gZ Huawei AppGallery - https://bit.ly/2D2OpNP  #FMTNews #WanAgylWanHassan #WongShawVoon #TrafficFines

Transcript

00:00A transport expert has warned against linking traffic fines to an offender's income level,

00:07saying the move would foster social inequalities.

00:11One Agilwan Hassan agreed that tailgating was a dangerous practice among motorists,

00:16which must be curbed, but said a proposal that ties fines to the earning capacity of

00:20offenders would create the perception of unequal treatment.

00:24He said those required to pay higher fines would feel unfairly targeted while others

00:29may appear above the law, creating resentment.

00:33One Agil, founder of transport think tank MyMobilityVision, said the country has sufficient

00:38laws under the Road Transport Act 1987, but said there were weaknesses in enforcing the

00:44law.

00:45One Agil's comments come in response to a proposal by Wong Shaw Woon, chairman of the

00:49Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research, suggesting that Malaysia emulate Finland,

00:55which imposes fines that are directly proportional to an offender's income level and the seriousness

01:00of the offence.

01:01One Agil said income-based fines worked in Finland because the country has a transparent

01:06income system and high trust in their institutions, unlike Malaysia.

01:12He also said there was a need to rebuild trust in road enforcement by ensuring fairness and

01:16accountability rather than create a two-tier system.

01:21Atasha Bust, FMT.

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