IT was supposed to be a routine delivery for Alex.
He was driving his one-tonne lorry from Ujong Pasir to Krubong in Melaka to deliver beverages to a food court.
As he slowed to about 30kph while approaching a traffic light near the Melaka Sentral bus terminal, a motorcycle travelling along the road shoulder suddenly swerved across his path.
There was little Alex, who is my friend, could do.
The motorcyclist fell, while Alex managed to bring his vehicle to a stop safely.
But what happened next left a greater impression than the accident itself.
The rider allegedly demanded cash for motorcycle repairs and medical expenses. Insults were also hurled at Alex.
When several passing motorists who stopped to help, asked the motorcyclist for his documents, it emerged that he did not have a valid driving licence or insurance.
Before the matter could be properly resolved, the rider fled.
Alex was fortunate as no one suffered serious injuries and he was able to continue his delivery.
Yet his experience raises a far bigger question.
How many unlicensed and uninsured motorists are travelling on our roads today, and more importantly, how are they able to get behind the wheel in the first place?
The Road Transport Department (JPJ) has been asking the same question through Ops Pemandu Warga Asing (Ops PeWA), a nationwide enforcement operation targeting foreign motorists.
The findings should concern every road user.
Between Jan 1 and July 28 this year, Melaka JPJ inspected 582 vehicles during Ops PeWA and uncovered numerous offences involving motorists driving or riding without valid licence, road tax or insurance.
The state JPJ took action against 404 vehicles, seized 401 vehicles and issued 1,012 notices for various offences under the Road Transport Act 1987.
These were not merely technical violations; they represented real risks on public roads, where one irresponsible decision could forever change another person’s life.
A driving licence certifies that a person has demonstrated the minimum knowledge and competence to operate a vehicle safely.
Insurance ensures that victims are protected financially if an accident occurs.
Without either, every journey becomes a gamble – not only for the driver but also for everyone else sharing the road.
Perhaps the most disconcerting revelation from Ops PeWA was that many of these vehicles did not magically end up in the hands of unlicensed foreign motorists, they were provided by Malaysians.
Some were rented out for easy income. Others were sold informally without proper transfer of ownership documentation.
In many cases, vehicle owners failed to verify whether the person taking possession was legally qualified to drive.
The issue is no longer simply about individuals breaking the law.
It is also about those who knowingly − or carelessly − enable them to do so.
Thousands of foreign workers who are legally employed in Malaysia comply with our laws and contribute to the country’s economy.
They should not be judged because of the irresponsible actions of a minority.
No Malaysian or foreigner should be operating a vehicle without legal authority to do so.
Ops PeWA is therefore more than an enforcement campaign.
It is a reminder that accountability extends beyond the person sitting behind the wheel.
It also rests with those who rent, lend or sell vehicles without ensuring that the law is observed.
As Malaysians celebrate the spirit of nationhood this National Month, patriotism should be reflected not only by displaying the Jalur Gemilang, but also by doing what is right.
Refusing to profit from illegal vehicle rentals, insisting on proper documentation and conducting firm enforcement are actions that show our love for the nation.
Because every unlicensed driver on our roads did not arrive there by chance.
Someone, somewhere, handed over the keys.
