Kota Kinabalu: The Road Transport Department (JPJ) Sabah seized 13 vehicles, including 12 cars and a motorcycle, for various offences involving extreme modifications since launching its Extreme Special Operation (Ops Ekstrem).
JPJ Sabah Director Datuk Mohd Harris Ali said 24 vehicles had been subjected to enforcement action following complaints and observations of an increasing number of vehicles being modified beyond prescribed specifications.
He said 81 notices were issued, including 34 JPJ (P)22 summonses, 19 Section 61(1) inspection orders, 15 PG1 notices prohibiting the use of vehicles, and 13 Section 64(1) notices involving vehicle seizures.
“The offences identified included extreme modifications to the vehicle’s body and equipment, registration numbers that did not comply with specifications, exhaust offences, expired motor vehicle licences, lack of insurance coverage and excessive window tinting,” he said at a press conference at the JPJ Sabah headquarters in Bundusan, recently.
Harris said vehicle modifications were governed by Section 12 of the Road Transport Act 1987, and the 13 seized vehicles had been detained for further action in accordance with the applicable regulations.
He added that exhaust-related offences were among the most common violations discovered during the operation and caused excessive noise that disturbed the public.
He said the operation would continue throughout Sabah with no set end date as part of JPJ’s ongoing enforcement efforts.
“Roads are not a place for us to show off extreme modifications or test the capabilities of our vehicles, or to engage in actions that could disrupt or endanger other road users,” he said.
Harris said vehicles that had been extensively modified and no longer conformed to their original technical specifications may have altered performance and handling characteristics.
He said this could increase the risk of more serious accidents, especially when such vehicles were driven at high speeds.
Harris said JPJ would continue collaborating with other enforcement agencies, particularly the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) and the Immigration Department, to ensure compliance with road transport regulations.
He said enforcement would be accompanied by advocacy efforts, such as engagements with relevant groups to explain the regulations and the reasons behind them.
“We will not only enforce the law, but we will also meet with the groups involved to ensure that the need to comply with the law is understood and that the Government’s regulations are widely communicated,” he said.
Harris also encouraged the public to continue filing complaints with JPJ, stating that the department could not be present everywhere.
He said JPJ would issue Notice 114 for the investigation of vehicles found to have violated regulations, including those that evaded enforcement officers and went viral on social media.
He said severe action could be taken against drivers and vehicle owners if they failed to appear before JPJ.
Meanwhile, JPJ Sabah inspected 377,942 vehicles and took enforcement action against 52,458 vehicles from January to August.
Harris said the three most common offences during the period were expired road tax, involving 19,564 cases; driving without a valid licence or with an expired licence, involving 17,389 cases; and lack of insurance coverage, involving 13,191 cases.
He said JPJ would continue enforcement and advocacy efforts to improve road user compliance.
Harris added that greater awareness was required because motorists without valid licences may face a lack of insurance protection in the event of an accident.
He also said JPJ would continue its MyLesen programme, which provided 4,600 free B2 motorcycle licences in Sabah this year.
The MyLesen B2S programme for school students began in July, with participants expected to complete it by October or November.
