PASIR MAS: A total of 28 lorries were seized by the Road Transport Department (JPJ) for excessive loads in the first three days of an operation started last Tuesday (Oct 14) against overloading on commercial vehicles.
JPJ enforcement senior director Datuk Muhammad Kifli Ma Hassan said 10 lorry drivers were detained for committing the offence on the first day, followed by 15 on the second day.
"On the third day, the number decreased to three cases, but JPJ does not think this decrease reflects a comprehensive change in attitude among lorry operators and drivers," he told reporters after inspecting the operation in Kampung Kasar here on Sunday.
He said commercial vehicles caught carrying loads exceeding 50% of the permitted limit will be seized and handed over to the Land Public Transport Agency (Apad) for the forfeiture process.
He said JPJ detected several acts of sabotage and irresponsible behaviour by lorry drivers, allegedly carried out on the instructions of their company owner.
Muhammad Kifli said these included illegally dumping their cargo by the roadside, switching off their engines and GPS systems while on the road, and causing traffic disruptions.
"This kind of action not only affects the smooth flow of traffic, but also threatens the safety of other road users. JPJ will not compromise with such actions.
"We will submit a report to Apad to revoke or suspend the operator's permit who instructs drivers to dump their load or turn off their GPS," he said.
Muhammad Kifli said that for drivers, their Goods Driving Licences (GDL) vocational licenses can be suspended if they refuse to cooperate, turn off their engines, dump their load or try to escape inspection.
He said among the serious cases recorded was an incident in Negeri Sembilan, where a driver dumped a load of stones in the middle of the road, as well as two incidents in Kuala Lumpur involving drivers who stopped their lorries and switched off their GPS systems on the road, causing severe traffic congestion.
"Such drivers can be considered irresponsible and rude, as their actions not only obstruct the duties of JPJ officers but also endanger the safety of other road users. Their GDL have been suspended," he said. - Bernama
