MORE than 21,000 foreign motorists were caught driving without valid Competent Driving Licences (CDL) in the first eight months of this year, highlighting continued enforcement concerns over road safety and regulatory compliance.
Transport Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook said 21,232 such offences were recorded among 133,081 summonses issued to foreign drivers between January and August.
He said authorities also recorded 1,933 cases of driving without a Goods Driving Licence (GDL) and 85 cases involving motorists without a Public Service Vehicle (PSV) licence during the same period.
Other offences included expired Motor Vehicle Licences (LKM), lack of insurance coverage, failure to obtain an entry permit or International Circulation Permit (ICP), and overloading.
"To ensure the same offences are not repeated, continuous enforcement and integrated operations are being carried out, including inspections of drivers' and vehicles' documents," he said in a written reply published on the Parliament website.
He was responding to Dr Siti Mastura Muhammad (PN-Kepala Batas), who asked about the number of offences recorded and measures taken to prevent them from recurring.
Loke said enforcement action against offending vehicles was also carried out in collaboration with the Immigration Department and Royal Malaysia Police, particularly in cases involving immigration status and other violations.
He said vehicle owners and employers were responsible for ensuring that only individuals with valid driving licences were allowed to drive.
The Road Transport Department (JPJ) would continue targeted operations at high-risk locations and sectors to improve compliance among drivers, vehicle owners and employers, including those employing foreign nationals. - November 6, 2026