SHAH ALAM: The Selangor Road Transport Department (JPJ) has detected locals renting or allowing foreigners to drive their vehicles without valid licences through the Foreign Drivers Operation (Ops Pewa) conducted since the start of 2026.
Selangor JPJ deputy director Datuk Ahmad Kamarunzaman Mehat said the matter came to light when vehicle owners claimed their impounded vehicles and the cases were brought to court.
He said the issue was also detected during a three-day operation that began on Tuesday in Balakong, Puchong, Petaling Jaya and Persiaran Hamzah Alang here, carried out in collaboration with the Selangor Immigration Department and local authorities, including the Subang Jaya City Council (MBSJ) and Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ).
"Vehicle owners and foreign drivers must pay the fines decided by the court before the vehicles can be released from the JPJ impound depot. If they fail to pay, the vehicles cannot be claimed," he told reporters at an Ops Pewa press conference at the Selangor JPJ headquarters in Jalan Padang Jawa on Thursday (June 18).
Elaborating on the operation, Ahmad Kamarunzaman said action was taken against 304 vehicles, comprising 125 motorcycles, 90 private vehicles, 74 goods vehicles and 15 public service vehicles.
In addition, action was taken against 239 foreign drivers, with Myanmar nationals accounting for the highest number at 50, followed by Bangladesh (46), Indonesia (44), India (10) and other countries (89).
The operation also recorded 734 offences. The highest was driving without a Competent Driving Licence (CDL) at 268 cases, followed by driving without a motor vehicle licence (207 cases), lack of insurance coverage (178), driving without a Goods Driving Licence (GDL) (77) and operating without a Public Service Vehicle (PSV) licence (four).
A total of 95 vehicles were impounded, comprising 61 motorcycles, 23 goods vehicles, nine private vehicles and two public service vehicles.
Ahmad Kamarunzaman said the department also found some vehicles used by foreigners were poorly maintained, including bald tyres and malfunctioning brakes, posing a safety risk to other road users.
Therefore, he warned vehicle owners, employers and transport companies that under Section 109 of the Road Transport Act 1987, registered owners are held responsible for any offences committed by drivers operating their vehicles, including foreigners.
He added that under Section 64 of the same Act, JPJ has the authority to impound vehicles if the foreign driver does not possess a valid driving licence.
For transport companies employing unauthorised drivers, actions such as the suspension or revocation of permits may be taken under the Land Public Transport Act 2010. – Bernama
