By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Aug 18: The Sarawak Commercial Vehicle Licensing Board (CVLB) will be introducing new policy guidelines aimed at taking firm action against errant operators, which will take effect on Sept 1, 2025.
In a statement, Sarawak CVLB chairman Michael Kong Feng Nian said this followed concerns raised by the public on what he described as ‘blatant disregard for the law’ by some commercial vehicle operators in the State.
Despite the efforts of the Road Transport Department (JPJ) and the police in issuing summonses, he said, many operators seem undeterred and continue to flout regulations, putting the safety of the public at risk.
“As a nation governed by the rule of law, it is absolutely critical that all laws and regulations be respected and adhered to. We take these matters seriously, and we are committed to ensuring that commercial vehicle operators are held accountable.
“To address the persistent non-compliance, the board will be introducing a stringent new set of policy guidelines aimed at taking firm action against errant operators,” he said.
Under the enhanced enforcement framework, the new guidelines will be as follows:
- First Offence: Operators will be issued a formal warning.
- Second Offence: A show cause letter will be issued. The operator will have to give a reasonable justification, failing which the offending vehicle’s licence will be suspended for three months.
- Third Offence: The licence suspension will increase to six months.
- Fourth Offence: The offending vehicle’s licence will be terminated.
- Subsequent Offences: All existing licences held by the operator under LPKP Sarawak will be revoked. The operator and its directors will also be blacklisted, preventing them from applying for any new licences in Sarawak.
He added that the penalties will commence from Sept 1 of this year and will apply to offences committed within a rolling three-year period, ensuring continuous monitoring and accountability for repeated violations.
“We understand that these measures may seem drastic and that some operators have raised concerns. However, public safety cannot be compromised. The continued non-compliance by a few operators endangers the lives of road users and tarnishes the reputation of the industry as a whole.
“We are hopeful that these stricter policies will promote greater accountability among operators and instil a stronger sense of responsibility to ensure that their vehicles and drivers comply with the law.
“We mean business when it comes to enforcing regulations, and we believe that these decisive steps will lead to a safer and more responsible transportation network in Sarawak.” — DayakDaily
