BUTTERWORTH – The Road Transport Department (RTD) has issued 47 compounds amounting to RM203,500 to private cars and bus operators for violating the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases (Measures Within Infected Local Areas) Regulations 2021 under the National Recovery Plan in relation to public transport.
The compound action was taken during an operation carried out by RTD in collaboration with the Penang Health Department from July 25 until yesterday.
During yesterday’s operations, a total of 80 personnel, including police, PLUS authorities and health officers, took part in roadblocks in Seberang Prai Utara, Seberang Prai Tengah and Seberang Prai Selatan between 4pm and 11pm.
RTD deputy director-general (planning and operations) Aedy Fadly Ramli said the operation was to check and ensure that commercial vehicles, especially factory buses, abide by the present standard operating procedures (SOPs).
“We discovered a private car carrying people more than the allowed capacity and individuals who failed to wear face masks.
“While several commercial vehicles that were compounded failed to follow SOPs involving public transport by not displaying the MySejahtera app QR code, failing to provide sanitisers and temperature scanners, as well as failing to maintain physical distancing by transporting more passengers than the allowed capacity,” he said at a press conference at a roadblock near the Sg Dua toll plaza here.
He added that his officers also issued fines to vehicles equipped with heavily tinted windscreens under the Motor Vehicle (Registration and Licensing) Rule 1959, which requires 70% windscreen visibility and 50% visibility for the left and right windows of a vehicle.
Aedy advised motorists to heed the rules stated under the Road Transport Act 1987 and SOPs to help break the Covid-19 chain following the surge in infections over the last two months. – The Vibes, August 27, 2021
