By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, May 9: Electric vehicle (EV) dealers and owners in Sarawak have been called on to ensure that their number plates comply with the specifications under the Road Transport Department’s (JPJ) ePlate initiative, even though the policy is currently not mandatory.
In a statement, Sarawak Transport Minister Dato Sri Lee Kim Shin said this following a recent case where an EV owner received a notice from JPJ regarding non-compliance with ePlate specifications, which later drew public concern.
According to a clarification from Sarawak JPJ, the notice was issued as part of its advisory enforcement. The owner subsequently filed a complaint. Upon investigation, JPJ confirmed that the number plate in question did comply with the approved specifications, and the case was closed.
Lee said that while the ePlate policy is a federal initiative and currently applies only to cars, it remains in a voluntary phase. Enforcement during this period is advisory, and no compound is imposed.
“We appreciate JPJ’s responsiveness in reviewing the case and providing clarification. This incident highlights the importance of public awareness and understanding of new initiatives,” said Lee.
He added that the Sarawak Transport Ministry, though not the implementing agency, plays a supporting and communicative role in helping ensure that the public and vehicle industry stakeholders receive timely and accurate information.
“Although not yet compulsory, all EV owners are strongly encouraged to adopt the JPJePlate to align with national efforts toward better enforcement and standardisation and play an important role in supporting road safety and emergency response operations,” said Lee.
He added that with EVs, fire and rescue operations (such as by Bomba) require different handling protocols due to the presence of high-voltage battery systems.
“When emergency services can quickly recognise that a vehicle is electric, they are able to respond more effectively and safely using the appropriate rescue techniques,” he explained.
JPJePlate is a standardised number plate system designed for better security, readability, and digital integration to improve enforcement and eliminate non-compliant designs.
The ePlate initiative was introduced by the federal Transport Ministry last September, which aims to standardise vehicle number plates starting with EVs, before extending to internal combustion engine vehicles. — DayakDaily
