New D-G aims to make JPJ people-friendly

PUTRAJAYA: A former Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) official has been appointed as the new director-general of the Road Transport Depart-ment

(JPJ).

Datuk Shaharuddin Khalid, who previously headed the MACC

Legal Advisory Office, replaced Datuk Seri Nadzri Siron at JPJ.

The 57- year- old clocked in at the Transport Ministry’s headquarters here at 8am yesterday.

At a press conference, Shaharuddin pledged to turn JPJ into a “people-friendly” department.

“If there is any part of the existing system that is burdensome to the public, we will review it.

“If it is good and people-friendly, we will retain it, and make improve- ments,” he said.

Shaharuddin said the “rebranding” of JPJ will be done mainly to upgrade its existing services.

“I hope we can organise more programmes with the rakyat.

“We only have 8,000 officers, but there are 30 million people in thie country.

“So, when people talk about the JPJ, we hope they will say that they find it easy to deal with us,” said Shaharuddin.

Nadzri, who become JPJ director-general on June 16 last year, has been transferred to the Human Resources Ministry.

JPJ underwent a leadership shakeup after a July 13 incident which saw three JPJ officers from the special action team (PTK) allegedly brake into Nadzri’s office.

The three were detained by police and released on bail.

Following the incident, JPJ enforcement director Datuk V. Valluvan, who oversees the PTK, was transferred to the Public Service Department.

Deputy director-general Datuk Yusoff Ayob was also transferred, after he was charged with driving on the emergency lane in Lingkaran Putrajaya, Putrajaya, last year.

Transport Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said Shaharuddin’s appointment was a purely “procedural” transfer.

“It’s a normal process. I welcome the new D-G. He has experience in enforcement and was with the MACC before this.

“I believe he could contribute well towards the JPJ and help strengthen our enforcement work,” Liow told the press after attending a Railway Assets Corporation event here.