KUALA LUMPUR (THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK) - Malaysia is looking at implementing a new system to stop foreigners from leaving the country without settling their traffic summons.

Federal traffic chief, Senior Asst Comm Datuk Mohd Fuad Abdul Latiff, said they were studying this proposal as some 838,510 summons were issued to foreigners during the period from 2000 to last year.

"Of these, 37.4 per cent belonged to Singaporean vehicles (313,661)," he said on Wednesday.

He said Brunei came in second with 48,179 unsettled summons, followed by Thailand (17,654) and Indonesia (2,614).

"For arrest warrants issued, Indonesia is on top with 6,575 warrants issued on its drivers, while Singapore is second with 4,621 warrants followed by Thailand (1,360), Brunei (398), the Philippines (307), Japan (125), Taiwan (111), Vietnam (89) and Cambodia (61).

"Those with outstanding summons and warrants of arrest should settle them immediately or face possible arrest when they re-enter the country," he said.

SAC Mohd Fuad added that the police would be working together with the Immigration Department to locate these offenders.

"We will conduct operations soon at various road entry points to detect these errant motorists," he said, adding that most of the summonses were issued for speeding.

On another matter, SAC Mohd Fuad said Bukit Aman had received approval to procure Automated Number Plate Recognition devices.

"These devices will allow police personnel to scan the number plate of a vehicle and immediately receive feedback on its history, number of summons and other information.''

During the press conference, SAC Mohd Fuad also handed letters of commendation and a cash reward to two of his personnel for turning down an RM800 (S$302) bribe.

L/Kpl Mohd Syazwan Zulkapli and L/Kpl Mohd Farid Amran were on patrol at around 11pm on Nov 13 when they spotted a car near the Bukit Merah exit along the highway carrying alcohol, with unpaid duties, in the boot and rear seats.

The driver tried to bribe them but was arrested instead.