IPOH: An express bus driver tested positive for drugs during the 2026 Chinese New Year Special Operation carried out by the Perak Road Transport Department (JPJ) here on Monday (Feb 17).
Perak JPJ director Mohammad Yusoff Abustan said that out of 80 urine tests conducted on bus drivers at terminals across the state, one driver failed the test after being confirmed positive for methamphetamine, reported Sinar Harian.
He said immediate action was taken against the driver in accordance with existing legal provisions.
"Perak JPJ will not compromise with any party that fails to comply with the law, especially public service vehicle drivers," he said at a press conference held in conjunction with the 2026 Chinese New Year Special Operation at the Meru Raya Terminal here on Monday.
Mohammad Yusoff said a total of 119 express buses were inspected during the operation, which began on Feb 13.
He said the checks included technical inspections, verification of licensing documents and assessments of compliance with safety procedures at depots, terminals and through undercover methods.
"As a result of the inspections, four express buses were found to have committed offences, and 12 summonses were issued," he said.
"Among the offences identified were passengers not wearing seat belts and drivers continuously using the right lane," he added.
In a related development, he said Perak JPJ officers also posed as passengers and boarded express buses to directly monitor drivers’ compliance with safety regulations.
According to him, the undercover operation, led by himself along with three state JPJ operations officers, was carried out on four separate express buses from Penang to Ipoh.
"In principle, most drivers have complied with the laws in place and, in fact, during inspections of the four buses involved, only one was found to have committed an offence, namely the absence of a second driver," he said.
During the 2026 Chinese New Year Special Operation, which runs from February 13 to 22, a total of 263 JPJ enforcement personnel in 41 monitoring teams were deployed throughout the state, focusing on major highways, federal roads and bus terminals.
