THEY claimed to be at Penang International Airport to pick up friends or acquaintances, but checks by the Road Transport Department (JPJ) found three drivers ferrying passengers without valid permits.
The excuse had failed to fool the enforcement team during a recent operation.
Penang JPJ director Zulkifly Ismail said 12 vehicles were inspected and six notices issued against the three vehicles found to be carrying passengers without valid permits.
“Among the excuses given by the drivers was that they were there to pick up friends or acquaintances.
“This is a common excuse we get,” he said at the airport.
He said the operation was carried out based on intelligence and public complaints about illegal taxi activities at tourist spots and major entry points in Penang.
The drivers are being investigated under Section 16 of the Land Public Transport Act 2010 for carrying paying passengers without a valid permit.
From Jan 1 to Oct 24, JPJ Penang inspected 1,056 vehicles suspected of operating without valid permits.
Of these, 496 vehicles were slapped with enforcement action, with 519 notices issued.
Zulkifly said the department viewed illegal passenger transport services seriously as they could jeopardise passenger safety and create unfair competition for legitimate operators.
He said all cases detected so far involved local drivers, with no foreign drivers arrested for the offence.
The department will continue its monitoring and enforcement operations to ensure commercial passenger transport operators comply with licensing and permit requirements, he said.
“Passenger safety cannot be compromised.
“We encourage the public to channel information on suspected illegal transport activities, through our official channels for further action,” he added.
