Lorry operators see red over stickers

JOHOR BARU: Lorry operators are crying foul over the implementation of Sirim-approved reflective stickers, which they claim are way too expensive and difficult to find.

The new Road Transport Department (JPJ) ruling came into effect on Jan 1, affecting commercial vehicles weighing 3,500kg and above.

Carpenter Ng Ah You, 65, has been transporting furniture on his personal lorry for more than 30 years.

He used to spend only RM10 on new stickers every year, which has caused no problems for him during Puspakom inspections in the past.

“Now I have to fork out RM100 to buy these new reflective stickers,” he said, adding that it was troublesome because he could only buy them at a Puspakom office or through an agent.

“In the past, I could just buy Sirim-approved stickers at any hardware store. And it certainly didn’t cost me so much,” he said at a press conference organised by Skudai assemblyman Dr Boo Cheng Hau here yesterday.

Lorry operator Andrew Sia said it was hard for him and his friends, who are also in the industry, to buy the stickers as they were only sold at a Puspakom counter and cannot be bought in bulk but one at a time.

He claimed there was a shortage as there was only one company selling the Sirim-approved reflective stickers.