KOTA KINABALU: Sandakan MP Vivian Wong has been urged to check with the relevant transportation authorities before raising any issue on the sector.
The advice came from Sabah Federation of Lorry Transport Associations president Steven Chua who called on Wong to double-check her facts first before commenting on the permissible laden weight (BDM) issue for lorries in the state.
While he thanked Wong, who is from DAP, for her concerns over the issue, Chua said the issue had been resolved following two meetings between their representatives and Transport Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong in June and July.
“No doubt she is concerned about the Sabah transportation sector but she should approach us for reference and updates.
“In doing so, she will not get inaccurate facts,” he said on Monday (Aug 1).
Chua said the meetings in Sandakan and Putrajaya were arranged by Sabah Commercial Vehicle Licensing Board chairman Datuk Chin Kim Hiung.
The longstanding issue was resolved in early July, he added, and that the BDM for all types of lorries, cargo vehicles, and trailers in Sabah had been increased to be on par with that of Sarawak and Peninsular Malaysia.
“Dr Wee announced that the Transport Ministry’s decision to increase the BDM for Sabah lorries was made after thorough study and careful consideration.
“Before this, there was a vast difference in the BDM of commercial vehicles in Peninsular Malaysia and in Sabah, which was between 3,000kg and 13,000kg,” Chua said.
Towards this end, he thanked all those who assisted to resolve the issue particularly the Transport Minister and Chin.
Dr Wee was reported to have said that the decision to increase the BDM for all types of lorries, cargo vehicles and trailers in Sabah was a logical move from the ministry to ensure that the government’s policy was fair to all Malaysians.
