The road transport department (JPJ) has urged the land public transport agency (APAD) to revoke the licences of any transport company which fails to ensure the safety of its vehicles, Bernama has reported.
This call comes in response to a rise in cases of lorry and heavy vehicle operators failing to renew their motor vehicle licences, running without valid insurance coverage, and neglecting mandatory inspections at Puspakom, said JPJ senior enforcement director Muhammad Kifli Mat Hassan.
“Between 2022 and 2024, JPJ seized 2,696 lorries. As of April, 365 lorries were seized for various offences, including overloading and being unfit to be on the road. According to statistics from the Vehicle Inspection and Safety Audit Report (JISA), JPJ has recommended that APAD revoke 15 vehicle permits, suspend 513 operator licenses or vehicle permits, and issue warnings in 28 other cases,” Muhammad Kifli said.
Of the 3,061 lorries seized, 135 were impounded under Section 80 of the Road Transport Act 1987 (Act 333), seven were forfeited under the Land Public Transport Act 2010 (Act 715), while investigations are underway for the remaining cases.
The department has also started 17 investigations into commercial vehicles including lorries, for their involvement in accidents caused by negligence or mechanical failures, Muhammad Kifli added. Of the total, one has resulted in sentencing, three are currently on trial, one is undergoing prosecution, 11 remain under investigation, and one is awaiting a chemical analysis report.
Beginning this year, the JPJ has opened investigation papers under Section 234 of the Road Transport Act 1987 for obstructing JPJ officers from carrying out their duties.
“Six investigation papers have been opened involving cases where lorry drivers fled and abandoned their vehicles in the middle of the road when approached for inspection, including incidents where drivers deliberately damaged their vehicles,” the JPJ senior enforcement director said.
Last week, JPJ revealed that tipper lorries designed to transport materials are the type of heavy vehicle with the highest number seized by the department in its enforcement operations since 2022. Tipper lorries were also found to have committed the most road offences, including carrying excessive loads, operating with expired road tax/insurance and for failing to undergo periodic Puspakom inspections as required by the government.
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