SEREMBAN – The Road Transport Department (RTD) recorded 321 traffic offences by road users during a two-day integrated operation codenamed Op Covid-19 with police during the implementation of the movement control order (MCO).
RTD director-general Datuk Zailani Hashim said the highest number of offences involved expired road tax (43) and the rest were for other offences under the Road Transport Act 1987 (Act 33).
He said the operation is being carried out in areas under the MCO, conditional MCO (CMCO) and recovery MCO (RMCO) nationwide from last Saturday to January 26 to ensure compliance with standard operating procedures (SOP).
“Focus is also on aspects of interstate travel offences involving commercial vehicles, such as buses, and drivers with no letters for interstate travel, so we will also focus on that more.
“We will also look out for offences involving the abuse of travel permits, where people can only travel to certain places but they go to other areas as well. If this is not supervised and controlled, these permits will be abused,” he said after conducting a survey at the RTD office at Ampangan Urban Transformation Centre (UTC) here today.
On whether the RTD will increase the number of its personnel tasked with assisting the police throughout the MCO period, he said the matter will be studied according to what is needed.
It was earlier reported that 1,200 RTD personnel nationwide have been mobilised from Saturday to January 26 to help the police ensure compliance with SOPs.
Meanwhile, he said the Negri Sembilan RTD office in Senawang here will be temporarily closed to allow its staff to undergo Covid-19 swab tests today and tomorrow, and that, during the closure, all matters will be transferred to the RTD branch in Kuala Pilah, Jempol and UTC Seremban.
“If the test results are obtained tomorrow, on Wednesday, the counter will reopen but perhaps not in full capacity.”
Meanwhile, Zailani asked the public to utilise the services of its mobile counters for certain transactions to limit public gatherings and movement. – Bernama, January 18, 2021