I refer to Mohd Afral's letter about the DPM being uncaring towards traffic offenders. I beg to differ.

Firstly, let's get it straight. Traffic offenders have broken the law and are technically not entitled to leniency. The fact that the cops have been lax about collecting fines all these years has bred a sickening level of contempt.

The newspapers are replete with stories about people who have collected dozens of summonses over the years and not bothered to pay. Now that the cops get tough, they come out with all sorts of sob stories and excuses. Why can't Malaysians in general be law abiding?

The second point concerning affordability is sheer nonsense. If you cannot afford to pay the fine, don't break the law. Even tycoons who have broken the law have been pursued to brink of bankruptcy, let alone commoners.

The third point about timing is also sheer nonsense. These are old summonses and the offenders have had plenty of time, months if not years, in the past to make the payments.

It is time we stop this 'tidak apa' (nonchalant) attitude. Our government has done much to push for education to churn out a nation of civilised people towards achieving a developed status but if the people do not wish to be educated, no amount of money will change that.

You can take a horse to the water but you cannot make it drink.

Notwithstanding the many criticisms often launched against the traffic police, my own experience this round has been surprisingly pleasant. I pay all my fines on time and was surprised to find out from the infoline that there was an outstanding summon against me involving a car which I had sold many years ago.

At the eleventh hour, I made a police report, dashed to the JPJ (Road Transport Department) to make a report and finally made it to the traffic police station — only to find a humongous 'last minute' queue. I presented all the documentary evidence to a police officer, told him that I was not there to join the queue to pay the fine but rather to cancel the summons.

I was treated most civilly and my application was speedily attended to with smiles and handshakes, even though the cops were clearly under tremendous pressure that day.

Terima kasih, PDRM.