By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, July 10: The Padawan Municipal Council (MPP) should not deflect responsibility over the issue of heavy lorries damaging residential roads, as the authority to impose road restrictions and take enforcement action lies squarely with local councils, said Commercial Vehicle Licensing Board (CVLB) Sarawak chairman Michael Kong.
Kong was responding to a statement by MPP chairman Tan Kai, who suggested that CVLB as the authority responsible for issuing commercial vehicle licences, should reassess the requirements and restrictions for lorries transporting earth and construction materials.
This followed complaints from residents of Lotak Villas in Batu Kawah, under MPP’s jurisdiction, who said the increasing number of heavy lorries using Jalan Kwong Thiong had led to road damage.
“Instead of addressing MPP’s failure in enforcing its own by-laws and regulations, the council now attempts to shift the blame to CVLB Sarawak. This claim is not only misleading but reflects a disturbing lack of understanding of our respective jurisdictions,” he said in a statement today.
Kong explained that CVLB issues licences for general use based on established policies and strict vetting procedures, in which applicants who meet all requirements cannot be denied a licence arbitrarily.
“To suggest that CVLB Sarawak is at fault is akin to blaming the Road Transport Department (JPJ) Sarawak for renewing a driver’s licence when there is no legal basis to reject it. If the applicant is not blacklisted and has no outstanding compounds, there is no legal basis to reject the application,” he added.
According to Kong, the issue at Lotak Villas is not about lorry overloading but the usage of residential roads unsuitable for heavy machinery.
“Determining which roads are restricted falls under the local council’s purview, and enforcement, including erecting road signs indicating vehicle weight limits, is their duty.
“If lorries are found on roads where they are not allowed, MPP has the authority to take enforcement action. Only then can JPJ Sarawak issue compounds, and CVLB Sarawak be notified for further action, such as blacklisting operators during licence renewal,” he explained.
He highlighted that this enforcement mechanism was made clear to MPP during a joint coordination meeting held on May 15, 2025, involving CVLB Sarawak, JPJ Sarawak, and all local councils across Sarawak.
“We explicitly informed the councils that enforcement action by JPJ can only follow once appropriate weight limit signage is installed,” Kong stressed.
He also shared that over the past year, CVLB Sarawak has been reviewing and strengthening its policies to tighten regulations on commercial vehicle operators and is exploring legal means to suspend or deny renewals for repeat offenders.
“However, for us to take action, there must first be enforcement at the ground level. This includes the issuance of compounds or stop work orders by the relevant local councils. Without such action, CVLB Sarawak cannot simply revoke a licence without legal basis,” he added.
He reiterated his call for all local councils, including MPP, to fulfil their responsibilities by erecting proper signage, taking enforcement action against errant operators, and notifying CVLB Sarawak of any violations.
“Only through coordinated efforts can enforcement agencies like JPJ and CVLB carry out their duties effectively and lawfully,” he said. — DayakDaily
