MELAKA: A Rohingya refugee transporting a carload of vegetables was among 40 foreign motorists caught driving without valid licences as the Road Transport Department (JPJ) intensified enforcement against unlicensed drivers in the state.
Melaka JPJ director Siti Zarina Mohd Yusop said the 30-year-old man was stopped during "Ops Pemandu Warga Asing" (Ops PeWA) on Tuesday (July 28) while driving a car laden with vegetables to a market in Malim here.
"The man told my officers that he was on his way to sell vegetables.
"Checks found that he did not possess a valid driving licence, while the vehicle's road tax had also expired," she said.
Siti Zarina said the operation was aimed at ensuring every motorist on the road possessed a valid driving licence and complied with the provisions of the Road Transport Act 1987.
She said the enforcement exercise was carried out to improve compliance with traffic laws, reduce the risk of road accidents and strengthen the safety of all road users.
Siti Zarina said the operation, which began on June 28, focused on the Malim and Limbongan areas following intelligence gathering, public complaints and an analysis of high-risk locations.
"During Tuesday's operation, my officers inspected 151 vehicles, with enforcement action taken against 40 of them.
"A total of 193 notices were issued under the Road Transport Act 1987, while 40 vehicles, comprising 34 motorcycles and six cars were seized," she said.
She said among the most common offences detected were driving without a valid licence, expired road tax and the absence of valid motor insurance.
Siti Zarina said from Jan 1 to Tuesday, Melaka JPJ had inspected 582 vehicles under Ops PeWA.
"Of the total, action was taken against 404 vehicles, involving the seizure of 401 vehicles and the issuance of 1,012 notices for various offences," she said.
She added that Tuesday's operation was conducted jointly with the state National Security Council, reflecting the government's continued commitment to strengthening enforcement and safeguarding all road users.
In a separate development, Siti Zarina said the roar of modified motorcycles came to an abrupt halt when youths scattered in all directions after JPJ enforcement officers swooped in on a gathering of riders suspected of disturbing public peace with excessively noisy exhausts along Lebuh Ayer Keroh on Sunday (July 26).
She said two heavily modified motorcycles were abandoned after their owners failed to evade officers during the operatiob near a petrol station close to the Melaka Historic City Council's building.
According to Siti Zarina, the riders had gathered at the location while revving motorcycles believed to have been fitted with excessively modified exhaust systems, creating noise that disturbed nearby residents.
"As our enforcement team arrived, several riders attempted to flee.
"In the rush to escape, one of them even dropped his MyKad at the scene, providing an important lead for our ongoing investigation and enforcement action," she said.
Siti Zarina said inspections found that both abandoned motorcycles had undergone extensive modifications that failed to comply with technical specifications under the Road Transport Act 1987.
Among the offences detected, she noted were the use of non-compliant noisy exhaust systems, defective lights and brakes, malfunctioning safety components, tyres and rims that did not meet approved specifications, as well as the absence of side mirrors.
"Both motorcycles were seized for further investigations," she said.
