KUALA LUMPUR: Companies operating heavy vehicles must settle the outstanding fines of their drivers, says Transport Minister Anthony Loke.
Loke said the responsibility lies with the company, as the permit to operate heavy vehicles is granted to the company, not the driver.
ALSO READ: Transport Ministry reveals companies with most traffic summons
“A summon is a summon. The permit wasn’t granted to the driver. So, when the vehicle is fined, the owner of the vehicle and the permit holder has a responsibility.
“To me, that is their internal issue on how they want to handle their drivers,” said Loke during an event at KL Sentral on Thursday (June 26).
Loke was responding to a statement by KDEB Waste Management Sdn Bhd (KDEB), which said poor communication in delivering summons notifications by subcontractors is one reason it has the highest number of unpaid Road Transport Department (JPJ) fines.
ALSO READ: KDEB says poor comms with subcontractors reason for high number of unpaid summonses
Meanwhile, Loke added he will instruct the JPJ and the Land Public Transport Agency (APAD) to be more aggressive in monitoring drivers to curb repeat offenders.
“Proactive action needs to be taken on companies or drivers with repeat offences. Audits will be conducted on the companies,” said Loke.
On Wednesday (June 25), Loke revealed a list of 11 logistics companies and 17 express bus operators with the highest number of unpaid summonses for various traffic offences.
Loke said that among the companies with the most summonses was KDEB, with 22,017 unpaid fines.
