GOMBAK: A man standing in for his brother behind the wheel of a tour bus was among those caught red-handed by the Road Transport Department (RTD) during a massive operation at the Kuala Lumpur-Karak Expressway.
The 36-year-old driver said that he had been asked to take over driving the bus to Kuantan because his brother was unwell.
"My brother was supposed to drive this tour bus to Kuantan with passengers, but due to his poor health and inability to wake up early, he asked me to replace him.
"However, upon arriving at the Gombak Toll Plaza, my tour bus was detained by RTD enforcement officers because I did not have a valid driving licence or a PSV."
Acknowledging that his actions were a serious offence, the man, who declined to be named, said that it was unavoidable as he wanted to help his brother.
"I know this is a serious offence, but I couldn't avoid it because I wanted to help my brother. He instructed me to drive the bus and wait at the toll before the RTD conducted an inspection, took action, and asked me to wait until a licensed driver arrived," he said when met at the Gombak RTD Enforcement Station at the Kuala Lumpur-Karak Highway.
The tour bus driven by the man was inspected and impounded for two hours, starting at 7.30am, before being allowed to continue its journey after his brother arrived to take over driving duties.
"I have never faced such a situation before because I usually only drive buses within the city and around my residential area.
"After this, I need to ensure I obtain a driving licence and a PSV to avoid being penalised again," he added.
He was one of two bus drivers found without valid licences during today's ongoing operation.
Road Transport Department (RTD) Senior Enforcement Director Muhammad Kifli Ma Hassan said that the integrated operations with the police, National Anti-Drugs Agency (Nada), and the Ministry of Tourism, Arts, and Culture (Motac), which began at 6am today, screened 22 buses.
"As of 9am, out of the total vehicles that have been screened, we have identified and detained two tour bus drivers without competent driving licences and public service vehicle (PSV) licences.
"These offences should not have occurred if the companies and drivers were responsible for their respective vehicles," he said.
As such, Kifli said, they had taken drastic action by impounding the buses until the companies replaced the drivers with valid licences.
He also mentioned that Nada conducted urine tests on all 22 drivers, where one of them tested positive for marijuana use.
"The driver, who is in his thirties, tested positive for marijuana use and has been handed over to Nada for further action."
Yesterday, it was reported that the Transport Ministry will launch a major crackdown on tour buses starting today, following the deadly crash in Genting Highlands that resulted in the deaths of two tourists from China.
On Saturday, two Chinese nationals were killed and several others injured when a tour bus landed on its side while travelling downhill at Km16.5 of Jalan Genting-Bentong.
The two male victims, who died at the scene, are believed to have been trapped in their seats during the 10.40am accident.