Zakirin
KELANTAN – Authorities have brought 34 vehicle owners in Kelantan to court for illegally renting their vehicles out to Rohingya refugees who do not possess valid driving licenses.
According to Kelantan’s Road Transport Department (JPJ) director, Mohd Misuari Abdullah, the crackdown was part of a targeted enforcement campaign known as Op PeWA (Operasi Pemandu Warga Asing). By June, these violations had resulted in total fines amounting to RM34,000.
Data collected during the operation from January to June revealed that 85% of the foreign traffic offenders apprehended were of Rohingya descent. In June alone, JPJ inspected 180 vehicles and seized 105 of them. During this month, 201 notices were issued covering 439 separate offences. The most frequent violation was driving without a valid competent driving license (LMM) with 210 cases, followed closely by 105 cases involving the misuse of motor vehicle licenses or road tax.
Looking at the broader enforcement efforts over the first half of the year, authorities inspected a total of 576 vehicles, seized 457 of them, and issued 908 summonses.
Misuari emphasized that under current regulations, Rohingya individuals are not legally permitted to drive in Malaysia. The Ministry of Transport had previously clarified in June that refugees holding United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) cards are ineligible to apply for Malaysian driving licenses.
The JPJ director issued a stern warning to locals who lend or rent their vehicles to unlicensed drivers, noting that they face prosecution under Section 23(2) of the Road Transport Act 1987. Furthermore, any vehicles found to be involved in these offences will be confiscated immediately.
“We urge the public not to be blinded by rental profits,” Misuari stated, reinforcing that strict enforcement will continue to ensure the safety of all road users.
