KUALA LUMPUR, June 8 — Traffic offenders have turned responsible and settled their summonses without cops having to come calling.

Of the 5.3 million summonses issued last year, only 1.4 million remain unsettled.

"The 3.9 million summonses raked in RM304 million,” Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said.

"There would have been at least another RM600 million collected if all the summonses had been paid by offenders.”

The Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar had requested for officers to be allowed to go door-to-door to collect unpaid summonses, a request which Ahmad Zahid, who is also Home Minister, rejected.

"I told the police not to go to their houses first. I understand people are going through tough times and would have many other things to pay for,” he said.

Zahid said instead of being saddled with traffic summonses, he advised motorists to be more careful and vigilant on the road.

"If you do not commit any offence there would not be any summons to worry about, and the number of accidents would also decrease,” he said.

He also announced that Ops Selamat II would be launched on June 14 nationwide in conjunction with the upcoming Hari Raya season to curb road incidents.

Federal police traffic investigations and enforcement department, which was formed last year, would be tasked with handling the operations.

"The operations are part of ongoing objectives, to educate the public on road safety and be vigilant on the road, while trying to reduce the number of road accidents and fatalities,” he said.

On an unrelated matter, Ahmad Zahid denied reports claiming three Hamas leaders were seeking refuge in Malaysia after being ousted from Palestine following tensions in the region.

"We have cross-checked information from our intel sources with the Immigration Department, and I can confirm these men are not in Malaysia,” he said.