Take more stringent actions against traffic violators, urged road safety advocate

SHAH ALAM - Many of road users nationwide refused to take or renew their Motor Vehicle License (LKM) and Malaysian Driving License (LMM) although it has been over a month since the moratorium period for the licenses ended on Dec 31, 2021.

The issue was detected within six days of Ops Selamat 17 held in conjunction with 2022 Chinese New Year from Jan 25 until 30.

Road Transport Department chief director, Datuk Zailani Hashim said, over 67,265 vehicles have been inspected and his department has issued notices and summons to over 24,708 drivers and vehicle owners.

“The highest traffic offences that have been detected are driving without a valid license with 4,471 cases followed by expired motor vehicle license or no insurance coverage with 3,702 cases,” he said in a press release at Lembah Sireh bus terminal in Kota Bharu on Tuesday (Feb 1).

The government in September 2021 extended the moratorium period for the renewal of LKM and LLM until Dec 31, 2021, as one of the initiatives to reduce the burden of the rakyat who are affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Transport Minister, Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong, however, said the expired LKM owners will have to ensure their respective vehicles are covered by the valid insurance and display the insurance certificate for inspection purposes.

Meanwhile, Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) head of Road Safety Research Centre (RSRC), Assoc. Prof Dr Law Teik Hua urged the government to enhance the enforcement in detecting the road users who still refused to take the license and renew their road tax.

He said the stubbornness of the road users in refusing to renew the road tax and driving license are rooted in them not being fearful of the law.

“Unlike the vehicle insurance, they need to renew it if they are involved with accidents and it is easy for them to claim the insurance.

“Road users are bound to think that the road tax and the driving license have no correlation with safety so they often delay the action of renewing the license,” he told Sinar Harian.

Teik Hua also said the parents need to play their roles in ensuring the teenagers of 16 years old and above have a driving license before allowing them to ride motorcycles to go to school.

“Some parents allow their children who do not have the driving license to ride the motorcycle with an expired road tax because the distance from their house to school is not far.

“They often forget that it is mandatory for the road users to have a valid driving license and a valid road tax,” he said.

Teik Hua then urged the government to ramp up enforcement as further means to raise awareness to the public.