Loke: No new policy in renewing driving licence

There were groups deliberately pitting lorry drivers against one another to create confusion, which resulted in the recent protest outside the Transport Ministry, says Anthony Loke.

He said the ministry had never introduced a new condition or policy for lorry drivers to renew their driving licences.

Loke said all the conditions and policies, including legal action, were “nothing new” and stated in the Land Public Transport Act.

“All were existing conditions whether the amount of summonses, carrying excess goods, health check-ups or even the renewal of driving licences were all under the Act, which had been approved by Parliament several years ago.

“There are some parties who tried to influence the lorry drivers for the benefits of certain groups, to the extent that confusion occurred and sentiments were raised,” he said after closing the MNSC Robotics competition here yesterday.

Loke said as such, the question of reviewing the regulations or policies did not arise.

“This matter is under the jurisdiction of JPJ (Road Transport Department). I did not give any instruction to the director-general (Datuk Seri Shaharuddin Khalid).

“I have directed him to look into the memorandum sent by the lorry drivers and to give a briefing to the lorry drivers association.”

On Thursday, several groups of lorry drivers held demonstrations at several locations, urging the ministry to relax legal action imposed on the commercial transportation services.

Besides medical check-ups for the renewal of Commercial Vehicle Licences and Public Transport Vehicle Licences, they also urged that consideration be given on the issues of high summonses, overloaded cargo, vehicle inspection, reduction in the time of road blocks and the demerit points.

About 500 lorry drivers gathered in Putrajaya demanding to meet Loke before handing a memorandum to a ministry’s representative. — Bernama