Ban on heavy vehicles during Aidilfitri to be reviewed
KUCHING: The ban on heavy vehicles using the roads during the Hari Raya Aidilfitri travel period in Sarawak will be reviewed next year, said Stampin MP Chong Chieng Jen.
He said he would bring the matter up to Minister of Transport Anthony Loke.
Chong, who is Sarawak Pakatan Harapan ( PH) chairman, said the rationale of restricting heavy vehicles two days before and after Aidilfitri was because Peninsular Malaysia faced very heavy traffic flow on those days.
“To avoid traffic jams and also to avoid any accident or to reduce the chances of accidents from happening, all heavy vehicles are prohibited to travel on the road on those four days.
“But the case may not be the same in Sarawak. Over here, the inter- city and inter-town travel during this Hari Raya season is not as heavy as in Peninsular Malaysia,” Chong said at the launch of a road enforcement operation in connection with
To avoid traffic jams and also to avoid any accident or to reduce the chances of accidents from happening, all heavy vehicles are prohibited to travel on the road on those four days. But the case may not be the same in Sarawak. Over here, the inter-city and inter-town travel during this Hari Raya season is not as heavy as in Peninsular Malaysia. Chong Chieng Jen, Stampin MP
Hari Raya Aidilfitri yesterday.
He said the proposed review was in response to the Sarawak Lorries Transport Association’s request.
Vehicles strictly prohibited on the roads during this period include loader lorries carrying timber or building materials such as cement, steel, sand, iron and stone; tipperdumpers; and concrete mixers.
The Hari Raya Aidilfitri enforcement operation will run until June 24, while the ban on heavy vehicles is from June 13-14 and June 23-24.
The operation will involve 150 state Road Transport Department (JPJ) officers and 40 vehicles, as well as other relevant departments and agencies.
Meanwhile, JPJ Sarawak director Mohd Syafiq Anas Abdullah said all bus drivers in Sarawak, who underwent urine tests conducted by the National Anti-Drug Agency, tested negative for drugs.
“This is a good development in our public transport system. By having drivers who are negative from drugs will make the passengers feel safe travelling in busses,” he said.
He added that JPJ had conducted safety operations at all bus depots since the beginning of the month.