By Ling Hui
KUCHING, May 17: Lorry drivers in Sarawak are compelled to carry excessive loads in order to survive in the highly competitive industry, says Padungan assemblyman Chong Chieng Jen.
Referring to this phenomenon as ‘modern slavery’, Chong claimed that lorry drivers who refuse to break the law by carrying overloads would face the risk of being shut out by potential employers.
If these lorry drivers insist on carrying only permitted load limits, he said, employers would most probably not engage them because there are other companies who are willing to do otherwise.
“They (The lorry drivers) are in a way being exploited by quarry owners, developers, big-time contractors to carry overloads.
“Not only are they exploited, but when they are on the road, the JPJ (Road Transport Department), the PDRM (Royal Malaysian Police) would issue summons against them,” said Chong when debating the TYT’s speech at the Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUN) sitting today.
He thus proposed that the Sarawak government should impose a condition where employers are held responsible for paying any fines or compounds incurred when the lorries they engage are overloaded.
“I hope the government can look into this. JPJ may be a matter under the Federal government, but all these are within the Sarawak government’s authority. And the Sarawak government is in the position to help these lorry drivers,” he added. — DayakDaily
