KOTA BARU: Eight investigation papers have been opened on lorries implicated in accidents attributed to driver negligence.
Road Transport Department (RTD) senior enforcement director Muhammad Kifli Ma Hassan said these cases were recorded over a six-month period from July to December last year.
He said his department would not compromise with any commercial vehicles that commit road offences leading to accidents.
"Any commercial vehicle involved in an accident due to driver negligence, resulting in the accident, will be subject to seizure by RTD under Section 57 of the Land Public Transport Act (APAD) 2010.
"The vehicle owner or operator's licence will also be subject to an investigation, and if approval is obtained from the deputy public prosecutor, the licence holder may be prosecuted under the same section.
"Seizures are conducted under Section 80, with a minimum fine of RM1,000 and a maximum of RM500,000.
"From July 2024 onwards, action has been taken against eight lorries, and we will open further investigation papers for any lorries involved in accidents caused by driver negligence," he said during a press conference here after attending the integrated special motorcycle operation by the Kelantan RTD last night.
Meanwhile, a total of 12,427 notices were issued to commercial vehicles during the one-week Op Khas Gempur Teknikal operation, which began nationwide on Dec 25.
He said of the 25,231 goods and public service vehicles inspected, 2,660 were penalised for failing to comply with regulations under the Road Transport Act 1987, APAD 2010, and related regulations.
Based on the summons notices issued, over 2,000 commercial vehicles were found to have committed technical offences, such as poor vehicle maintenance, tyres not meeting specifications, or excessive tyre wear, he said.
"RTD also conducted a special Puspakom operation to ensure that all vehicles are inspected at Computerised Vehicle Inspection Centres (Puspakom) nationwide to comply with established standards.
"As a result of this operation, RTD inspected 37 Puspakom centres nationwide and 4,945 vehicles, with actions taken against 1,093 vehicles and 21 confiscated."