updated version Women, Family and Community Development Minister Shahrizat Abdul Jalil has clinched the No 2 spot in the cabinet's 'Speed Queen' title.

According to rilek.com.my website - which provides an online service for users to check and pay their traffic fines - Shahrizat has 23 summones, all for speeding.* [see update below]

But that's not enough to knock out the reigning queen, Youth and Sports Minister Azalina Othman, who has been slapped with 28 traffic violations.

Shahrizat, 53, nevertheless forced her boss in Wanita Umno, Rafidah Aziz, into third spot - the international trade and industry minister has 10 unpaid summonses dating back to 2003.

Malaysiakini yesterday was unable to check Shahrizat's record as we didn't have her identity card number. However, a reader has helpfully provided us with the necessary details this morning.

Shahrizat's unpaid fines go back to 2001 and her speeding violations were made by the same car, registered under her name. However, it is no clear who was behind the wheel when the offences were committed.

Her outstanding fines totaled RM6,900, but with the discount offered by the police, the minister will only have to pay RM3,040.

Earlier this month, malaysiakini reported that Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi was slapped with 11 summonses for speeding, traffic obstruction and parking offences.

An embarrassed Abdullah said he was not aware of the offences. However, he paid the fines after he was informed about the matter.

Meanwhile, a check at Rilek this morning revealed another VIP, Johor crown prince Tunku Ibrahim Ismail Sultan Iskandar, who had notched up a whopping 89 traffic summonses, has settled most of his RM26,700 outstanding fines.

Tunku Ibrahim has paid all but three of his summonses. The yet-to-be-paid summonses were traffic violations recorded in Negri Sembilan.

However, both Azalina and Rafidah have yet to settle their outstanding fines as of this morning.

Ops Warta launched

The revelation of VIPs having outstanding traffic fines comes hot on the heels of a police crackdown on traffic offenders.

Earlier this month, the police launched 'Ops Warta IV' - which will last until Aug 5 - to nab errant drivers who have failed to settle their fines.

According to the police, traffic summonses totaling RM2.82 billion - issued between 2001 and 2004 - have not been paid by 9.4 million traffic offenders.

In an immediate response, DAP secretary general Lim Guan Eng said that the law should apply equally to all Malaysians, be they ordinary citizens or VIPs.

"Why should the police go knocking on the doors of ordinary citizens in public housing but not dare to do the same in the mansions of ministers or the official residence of the prime minister?" asked Lim, referring to incidences of traffic offenders being arrested.

The police have also conceded that there could be errors in their computer system which tracks traffic summonses.

Police Internal Security and Public Order director Mustafa Abdullah had earlier said that some individuals may not be aware of having committed traffic offences as the summonses were not issued and sent to them.

He said the police are fixing the problem.

"The ministers should not be faulted for not paying the summons as they may not know they were issued with the summonses," said Lim.

"Until the police fixes the computer errors and the problems, it is unfair for Ops Warta to continue if it victimises innocent traffic offenders."


Update: As of 6pm today, Shahrizat has settled all of her summonses while Rafidah has paid seven out of her 10 summonses. There is no change in status for the rest.