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New Straits Times
07-07-2025
- Automotive
- New Straits Times
Industry groups slam move to suspend vocational licenses after accidents
KUALA LUMPUR: The government's decision to suspend the vocational licences of commercial vehicle drivers involved in road accidents, pending police investigations, has drawn criticism from industry players who argue that the move is premature and unfair. The Selangor and Kuala Lumpur Lorry Operators Association has voiced strong objections to the policy, saying it puts the livelihoods of drivers and their families at risk and could deter more people from entering the profession. Its secretary-general, Alvin Choong, said that licences should only be suspended once drivers are found guilty of causing serious accidents. "Good drivers are already hard to find, and this blanket action may worsen the shortage. "Many drivers are blamed for accidents even when they are not at fault," he said, adding that Malaysia should look to countries such as Japan, where commercial drivers are highly trained, well compensated, and held in high regard. He added that a more sustainable solution lies in attracting educated and younger individuals to the industry by improving training, working conditions, and pay. Yesterday, the Road Transport Department (RTD announced that it will suspend the vocational licences of commercial vehicle drivers involved in road accidents, pending investigations by the police. Its director-general Datuk Aedy Fadly Ramli said that if drivers are found guilty or issued a notice for violating any provision under the Road Transport Act 1987, their vocational licences would be revoked in accordance with Section 56(4)(b) of the same Act. He also said to ensure that commercial vehicle drivers are competent, the department will require any driver whose vocational licence has been suspended to undergo and pass a refresher training programme before the licence can be reactivated or removed from the suspension list. Echoing similar sentiments, Federation of Malaysian School Bus Operators Association president Amali Munif Rahmat said the decision was "unfair", as it only targets commercial drivers while private vehicle users are also frequently at fault. "Can we all agree that this suspension should be enforced across all types of vehicles, regardless of whether the individual is the cause or the victim of the accident? "Many private vehicle drivers should also face the same consequences. It should not be focused solely on heavy vehicles. "Fewer than 10 per cent of car passengers wear seat belts, and many private motorists frequently break traffic rules by overtaking on double lines. Why should innocent victims be subjected to the same penalties?" he said. He added that while no one should be above the law, neither should innocent parties be penalised without due process. "The investigations have not even been concluded, how can we determine who was at fault or who was the victim? "If that is the case, then suspend all licences until investigations are completed and the court decides who is guilty, even if the case takes years. "No one should be above the law, so there should be no exceptions," he said Meanwhile, the Association of Malaysian Hauliers (AMH) secretary, Mohamad Azuan Masud, said while the measure is sound and progressive, a clear and transparent implementation method is essential to prevent any injustice towards drivers who may not be at fault. He said the principle of justice and the investigative process, in line with legal procedures, must be respected, to ensure that no individual becomes a victim of the system.
New Straits Times
12-06-2025
- Automotive
- New Straits Times
Lorry associations divided over FRU crash findings
KUALA LUMPUR: Lorry associations are split over the preliminary report released by the Transport Ministry on the crash that claimed the lives of several Federal Reserve Unit (FRU) personnel in Teluk Intan, Perak. Selangor and Kuala Lumpur Lorry Operators Association (SKLLOA) secretary-general Alvin Choong acknowledged that overloading is a known issue within the industry, but said it was unfair to place full blame on the operator. "We are placing all the blame on this particular lorry, but it went through the proper inspection at Puspakom. It had been certified as roadworthy. It's not fair to blame them 100 per cent," he told the New Straits Times. Johor Truck Operators Association (JTA) president Chai Pei Yoon, however, admitted the issues cited in the report were not uncommon. "These are not always the result of bad intentions, but often stem from operational pressures and a lack of clear support or guidance," she said. Chai said the importance of better education for operators, clearer regulations, and practical support to help companies comply with requirements. She added that the association was ready to work with the authorities to raise industry standards. Earlier today, the Transport Ministry's preliminary report revealed that the lorry involved in the crash had a gross vehicle weight (GVW) of 40,960kg - 70.67 per cent above the permitted limit of 24,000kg. The vehicle also failed to meet requirements on the installation and functionality of its Global Positioning System (GPS), and was found to be operating outside of its technical specifications by transporting gravel instead of coal. On May 13, an FRU lorry carrying 18 personnel from Unit 5 Sungai Senam was involved in a collision with the gravel-laden lorry along Jalan Chikus-Sungai Lampam, at about 8.50am. Eight policemen were killed at the scene, while another died while receiving treatment at Teluk Intan Hospital. The remaining nine were injured.
