Tonto using advanced devices to monitor authorities - RTD

KUANTAN - Syndicates that look out for lorry companies or better known as 'tonto' (thugs) had been spotted using advanced or the latest walkie-talkies to ensure that heavy vehicles committing various offences will not be arrested by authorities.

A source from the Road Transport Department (RTD) said efforts to combat the tonto became challenging as they also employ edge-cutting communication technology.

"We found that they use various applications besides walkie-talkies to channel information related to authorities' movements quickly to problematic lorry drivers," he told Sinar on Thursday.

The source said that the information supplied by the tonto made it difficult for RTD enforcement officers to take action against problematic lorries because they had already received preliminary information about an ongoing operation.

"This threat of tonto made us think of other methods and alternatives to curb this group when carrying out operations," he said.

He said the tonto groups were spotted using four-wheel drive vehicles (4WD) with tinted mirrors.

"Previously, we found many antennas installed in 4WDs driven by tonto, now the vehicle has been modified for installation of advanced walkie-talkies inside of it," he said.

He added that the presence of tonto who would watch every single move of the enforcement team regardless of time brings about a major challenge in carrying out their duties.

"Before this, there was an RTD officer who was followed by five tonto while carrying out his duties on the Federal Highway, fortunately, he managed to 'escape' from the group at Persada Plus," he said.