New JPJ Special Op Targets To Impound & Forfeit Offending Commercial Vehicles

JPJ has initiated a nationwide special operation called 'Gempur Teknikal', and this effort is concentrated towards commercial vehicles.

Following the recent slew of high-profile – and deadly – accidents involving commercial vehicles, the Road Transport Department (JPJ) initiated a new special operation to detect, impound and forfeit said vehicles found to be in offence of the law.

The operation, called ‘Gempur Teknikal’, will be conducted nationwide by JPJ starting this week and it targets commercial vehicles that contravene the Land Public Transport Act 2010 (Act 715).

Specifically, JPJ highlights that it will focus on key offences through which, namely overloading, technical, documentation, traffic, and technical offences in manufacturing or usage of the vehicles.

Official statement by JPJ of the new 'Gempur Teknikal' nationwide special operation against commercial vehicles.

Besides stiff fines, offenders caught in this special op can also face having their vehicles impounded and possibly forfeited.

In its official statement released yesterday, JPJ adds that action will be taken against owners of offending companies or vehicles under Section 57 of Act 715 for the suspected offence of Melanggar Lesen Pengendali (Violation of Operators’ Licence) – specifically, failing to give high priority to other road users.

Violators can face fines ranging between the sum of RM1,000 and RM500,000 under this section. Moreover, their vehicles can also be impounded under Section 80 of Act 715 and be subjected to possible forfeiture.

In the same statement, JPJ continued further by emphasising that it will not compromise with commercial vehicle drivers or owners wo fail to comply with Road Transport Act 1987 (Act 333), Commercial Vehicle Licensing Board Act 1987 (Act 334) and the Land Public Transport Act 2010 (Act 715).

JPJ also emphasised a 'no compromise' approach towards dealing with offenders caught in this new operation detailed.

While it is unclear as to how long this special operation will last, it is at least a step in the right direction. Of late, accidents involving commercial vehicles have made headlines, many proving to be fatal.

A recent example came earlier this week on the PLUS Highway near the Ayer Keroh R&R that took seven lives. Said incident involving an express bus, two trailers, an MPV and a compact sedan, was reportedly caused by a detached tyre from one of the trailers mentioned.