THE Transport Ministry (MOT) has issued a stern warning to transport industry players to comply with road laws at all times, stressing that enforcement actions by the Road Transport Department are ongoing throughout the year and not confined to specific operations or seasons.
Transport Minister Anthony Loke said enforcement activities, including operations against overloaded vehicles, form part of JPJ’s core responsibilities and would continue without interruption.
“I want to remind everyone that these enforcement activities are not seasonal, nor are they carried out in phases. These enforcement operations are conducted all the time. This is JPJ’s core duty to enforce the law throughout the year,” he said.
“I hope this message can be conveyed to and accepted by all industry players. Do not commit offences. I know there are those out there who think that once enforcement ends, they can repeat the same offences,” he added when addressing the ministry’s monthly assembly on Wednesday.
Anthony criticised the attitude of certain parties who attempt to exploit the perception that enforcement efforts are temporary and later relaxed.
“I hope this message reaches all industry players. Do not commit offences,” he said.
He added that JPJ must further intensify and expand enforcement operations to ensure that the mission of making roads safer is carried out consistently.
He stressed that enforcement should not focus solely on heavy vehicles, but must also address drunk driving, illegal street racing and safety measures for motorcyclists. “
Whether it involves drunk drivers, illegal racers or motorcycle safety, all these issues must be taken seriously and enforced consistently,” he said.
In a related development, Anthony said the integration of data between JPJ and highway operators would enhance traffic law enforcement through the use of Automatic Number Plate Recognition technology.
He noted that discussions have already begun with PLUS Malaysia Berhad, the country’s largest highway operator, which has been rolling out the technology in stages since last year.
“We want to integrate the system with JPJ so that it becomes more effective, not only for toll collection but also from an enforcement perspective,” he said.
“If the system used by operators is integrated with the MySikap application, JPJ will automatically be able to identify whether a vehicle has valid road tax or insurance, or whether it is a cloned vehicle based on information in our database.”
Meanwhile, Anthony said proposals to restrict motorcycle access to highways must be discussed carefully and assessed from a practical standpoint before any decision is made.
He said while various suggestions have been put forward, including by highway operators such as PLUS, their feasibility and real-world impact must be thoroughly evaluated.
“There are all kinds of proposals being raised, including from highway operators, but whether they are practical or not is what we need to examine,” he said at a press conference after the ministry’s monthly assembly.
He was commenting on suggestions to limit motorcycle movement on highways by time or capacity to reduce conflicts with other vehicles, particularly during peak hours, amid a sharp rise in fatal accidents involving motorcyclists and pillion riders over the past three years.
Anthony said it was important to consider whether such measures would adversely affect users who genuinely rely on highways to reach their destinations.
He added that the matter does not fall solely under the Transport Ministry’s jurisdiction, but also involves the Malaysian Highway Authority, the Works Ministry and highway concessionaires.
“We know there may be benefits in terms of safety, especially to prevent highways from becoming venues for illegal racing,” he said.
Earlier reports highlighted that motorcyclists remain the largest group of road fatality victims, with nearly 3,000 deaths recorded over the past three years.
Statistics from Bukit Aman’s Traffic Investigation and Enforcement Department showed that reckless riding and violations of traffic laws continue to drive the annual increase in fatalities. - January 28, 2026
