LOKE: DRIVERS WON’T GIVE UP ‘LESEN TERBANG’
Ministry won’t take action against those who surrender their illegal licences
MANY drivers are reluctant to surrender their illegally-obtained driving licences to the Road Transport Department (RTD), despite calls to do so by the authorities.
The number of illegal licences surrendered was lower than what the Transport Ministry expected when the announcement for drivers to return the licences was made last month.
Its minister, Anthony Loke, described the response as “below average and disappointing”, despite the looming Oct 13 deadline for the holders to surrender their illegal documents.
He said these licences, commonly known as lesen terbang, were obtained without fulfilling the driving test requirements or passing the test.
“Many are using these illegal licences. They do not want to surrender them to the department and do not take the call seriously.”
Loke said the government was serious in imposing legislative measures on those who did not comply.
“I guarantee that no action will be taken against those who surrender the licences to us.
“Instead, we will provide solutions on how you can apply for a valid licence,” he said after visiting the Federal Territories RTD in Wangsa Maju here yesterday.
Loke said although the department had details of these licence holders, it was not its intention to drag them to court.
On the issue of foreigners using international driving licences, Loke said they could use the licence issued by their countries in Malaysia for only a year.
“After that, foreigners holding international licences are required to sit a driving test.”
Loke said the ministry was looking at restructuring the driving test for foreigners to make it easier for them.
He said the ministry was offering driving schools, rated three stars and above, the opportunity to expand their services by allowing them to set up computerised road safety and regulation e-service test centres on their premises from Jan 1.
The written driving test, which can be conducted online, is handled by three companies — MyEG, KOMMS and MySPEED.
He said there were 103 computerised test centres nationwide and hoped to double the number through the participation of driving schools next year.
He said the fee for the test would be reduced from RM27 to RM20, adding that based on last year’s ratings, about 150 driving schools would qualify to hold the online computerised road safety and regulation tests.
“The ministry does not want test centres to be seen as exclusive for concessions or companies, but instead, wants to extend the opportunity to all driving schools that received good ratings.
“By opening up, we can avoid monopolisation and increase market competitiveness.”
He said the ministry would send an invite to driving schools that qualified and could provide mirrored-glass examination rooms equipped with closed-circuit television cameras, tests and training computers, a server and Internet service.
Loke presented an appreciation certificate to Road Transport Department enforcement assistant Nurul Fatihah Shamsudin Shah, 27, who helped a deaf and mute individual lodge a complaint by using sign language.
A video of her signing with the complainant went viral last week. It garnered positive comments and praise from Netizens.