PETALING JAYA: A nationwide awareness campaign on the importance of obeying traffic laws has been launched in conjunction with the festive season.

       The police are collaborating on Program Jelajah Ops Selamat with Petronas, through 47 of its petrol stations.

       "This will begin today (Friday, April 22), and last until Sunday (April 24). All zones will be visited, including Sabah and Sarawak," Bukit Aman Traffic Investigation and Enforcement Department director Comm Datuk Mat Kasim Karim said at the campaign's launch at the Solaris Putra Petronas station in Seri Kembangan.

       "Our mission is to educate road users to be more aware of road safety so that the risk of accidents can be minimised.

       "Those conducting the campaign will travel to selected petrol stations and interact with the public to emphasise the importance of obeying road laws for their safety and that of their families."

       On the upcoming Ops Selamat 18 due to be launched on Tuesday (April 26), he said the department would build on lessons learnt from Ops Selamat 17.

       "That was the first operation after the start of the Covid-19 pandemic and we saw that many people still did not comply with traffic laws.

       "We must balance personal safety with our eagerness to celebrate Hari Raya," he added.

       Also present at the launch were Petronas Retail head Khalil Muri and Group Security head Comm (ret) Datuk Seri Zulkifli Abdullah.