One Community One JPJ programme scrapped

PUTRAJAYA: The Transport Ministry has ordered the One Community One JPJ programme to be scrapped with immediate effect.

Transport Minister Anthony Loke said the programme allowed participants to obtain a B2 (motorcycle) licence without undergoing stringent tests.

It is meant to help the underprivileged, especially those from the rural community, to obtain a B2 licence at a cheaper rate and without having to go to a driving school.

They will undergo a week’s course in the villages and get their licence after that.

“The ministry feels the tests are not stringent enough. As such, we have decided to scrap the programme.

“Those who wish to acquire a B2 licence must go through the normal way, which is through driving institutions,” said Loke after chairing his ministry’s weekly postCabinet meeting.

A total of 132,851 individuals obtained a B2 licence under the programme last year.

However, Loke said the ministry would not revoke the licences of those who acquired them under the programme.

The decision was made following the recent 15day Ops Selamat during the Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebrations.

At least 235 fatal accidents were recorded during the campaign with 248 deaths.

Although the numbers were lower compared to last year, Loke said 248 lives lost in the space of two weeks was unacceptable.

“We need a drastic change to reduce the number of accidents,” he said.

On another matter, Loke said the ministry would act against Facebook scams offering driving licences illegally.

“We discovered some Facebook pages that offer such services. JPJ has lodged police reports,” he said.

He said any JPJ officers found to be involved in such scams would be sacked and driving institutions found to be complicit would be shut down.