Melaka: The Melaka Road Transport Department (JPJ) seized 60 vehicles during its Foreign Driver Operation (Op PeWA), conducted at several locations across the state from June 16 until today, for various offences under the Road Transport Act 1987.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Melaka JPJ director Siti Zarina Mohd Yusop stated that 243 vehicles were inspected during the operation, leading to enforcement action against 60 vehicles and the issuance of 196 notices under the Road Transport Act 1987. The seized vehicles included 47 motorcycles, nine cars, two goods vehicles, and two other types of vehicles. The primary offences identified were driving without a valid licence, having an expired motor vehicle licence (road tax), and lacking insurance coverage.

Zarina highlighted that the foreign drivers penalised during Op PeWA included 23 Bangladeshis, 12 Pakistanis, 11 Rohingya, eight Indonesians, four Myanmar nationals, and two individuals of other nationalities. She emphasized that the operation aimed to ensure legal compliance on public roads, irrespective of the drivers' nationalities.

Investigations revealed that many of the seized vehicles were acquired through transactions that bypassed legal requirements, such as direct purchases from original owners without transferring ownership. Most motorcycles were sold for cash, with prices reaching up to RM1,500, and were typically older models. Some motorcycles in good condition were provided by employers for workers' use.

Zarina reminded vehicle owners of their responsibility under the Road Transport Act 1987, noting that allowing unlicensed individuals to use their vehicles constitutes an offence. She urged the public to adhere to road traffic laws to maintain safety and prevent any legal violations.