RTD denies staff behaved like hooligans

PUTRAJAYA: The Road Transport Department (RTD) has rubbished recent allegations on the social media that several of its enforcement staff behaved like hooligans and smashed the window of a lorry to get information from its driver.

In a statement here yesterday, its corporate and strategic planning division said the department was disappointed with the false accusations hurled against its staff who were merely carrying out their duties to ensure the safety of road users.

The incident occurred on Feb 22 at 1.15pm at the KM29 Jalan Johor Bahru-Kota Tinggi.

According to the staff on duty, the RTD spotted a lorry heading towards Johor Bharu and suspected its load to exceed the permitted limit.

“The RTD team tailed the lorry before ordering it to stop at the road shoulder,” said the statement, adding that when the staff went to check the vehicle, its driver hid and had locked the doors,

It said the RTD personnel subsequently, found the driver hiding behind the curtain of one of the rear windows of the lorry.

“The driver refused to cooperate when the staff requested to see his permit and related documents. The (lorry) driver then accused the RTD staff of smashing the window when in reality, it loosen and fell to the ground but was not broken.”-Bernama