Ministry looking into problems of Sabah JPJ

KOTA KINABALU: The Transport Ministry is seriously looking into problems faced by the Sabah Road Transport Department (JPJ).

Its minister, Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong during a visit to the building here yesterday, was briefed about the department’s programmes and listened to problems faced in their daily operations during his visit.

“I was told that there is a building at the department that has not been used since 2000 due to frequent floods in the area and the suggestion was to build three blocks of new office buildings to serve the people better, ” he said.

“I was also told that Sabah JPJ needs more vans for the mobile counter services used in the rural and interior areas in this state,” added Wee.

He said these suggestions and problems will be looked into thoroughly.

On the Kota Kinabalu drivethrough counter in the compound of the JPJ offices here – the first in Malaysia – he said that 14,360 transactions were done in three months since January this year.

Wee said this was impressive and added that the total payment collected from this drive-through is RM2.21 million.

He also said that he saw during his visit that proper standard operating procedures (SOPs) were set up and being enforced, including the setting-up of camps that made it more comfortable for the people waiting.

“When speaking to those waiting and some who have completed what they needed to do, I found that they were quite happy with the layout of the waiting area during this pandemic.

They were also happy that the waiting time was quite short,” he said.