KUALA LUMPUR: A Sri Lankan bus driver who had been ferrying workers without a valid licence for the past six months was caught during a routine enforcement patrol by the Selangor Road Transport Department (RTD).
Selangor RTD director Azrin Borhan said the bus was intercepted in Shah Alam earlier today, where checks revealed a string of serious offences.
“Among them were expired road tax, no insurance coverage, no Competent Driving Licence (CDL), no Public Service Vehicle (PSV) licence and an expired Puspakom inspection.
“The foreign driver, who had been transporting workers from Shah Alam to Pandamaran, was immediately detained together with the vehicle. Both were brought to the Shah Alam RTD office for further action,” he said.
Investigations revealed that the driver had been operating the vehicle for the past six months without the required authorisation.
Azrin said the department had also directed the employer to settle all outstanding summonses before any consideration is given for the release of the bus.
“The responsibility lies with employers to ensure their drivers are properly licensed and that their vehicles are roadworthy.
“Hiring foreigners without a valid licence to operate passenger buses is a serious offence, and those who choose to ignore the law will face consequences,” he said.
Azrin said that public safety could not be compromised, particularly when it involved commercial vehicles carrying passengers.
He added that the Selangor RTD would continue to monitor and act on public complaints, while carrying out regular patrols to ensure strict compliance with all road transport laws.
He said such operations are part of ongoing efforts to safeguard road users by removing unfit drivers and unsafe vehicles.
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
