GOMBAK, May 20 — The Road Transport Department (JPJ) has detected truck operators using special stickers believed to be intended to help their vehicles evade enforcement detection during operations in the Klang Valley. 

Sinar Harian reported JPJ Senior Enforcement Director Datuk Muhammad Kifli Ma Hassan as saying that trucking companies are believed to have paid individuals or groups known as ‘tonto’ to monitor and relay the movements of enforcement teams.

“The group would tail JPJ officers once they go out for operations before relaying real-time location information to lorries carrying specific stickers,” he said at a press conference here today. 

He said the ‘tonto’ groups use communication devices to track enforcement officers, allowing the trucks involved to temporarily lie low until operations end before resuming their journeys.

“These lorries were also found to be using back roads to avoid detection and enforcement action,” he was quoted as saying. 

Muhammad Kifli issued a stern warning to truck operators against employing or engaging ‘tonto’ groups to shield their vehicles.

He said information on such activities would be handed over to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) for further action, including potential joint operations.

He added that JPJ will continue special operations on commercial vehicles nationwide to curb overloading, permit violations and technical non-compliance.

From 2024 to April 2026, a total of 2,580,954 commercial vehicles were inspected nationwide, with 415,846 vehicles taken action against for various offences under existing laws.

He said 45,986 notices were issued in 2024, increasing to 57,174 notices in 2025, while 14,885 notices were issued between January and April this year.

JPJ also carried out seizures involving 753 lorries for permit violations and offences under the Land Public Transport Act 2010.

Penang recorded the highest number of seizures at 133, followed by Selangor with 125 and Pahang with 101.

BALING, May 17 — A 73-year-old school bus driver in Kedah was forced to turn his vehicle into a paid passenger transport service after struggling to find students to ferry over the past two years, leading to the bus being seized by the Road Transport Department (JPJ) for allegedly misusing its permit.

The school bus was detained during an operation by Kedah JPJ at the Gurun toll exit near here today after it was found carrying 26 passengers from Taman Intan, Sungai Petani, to Bukit Jenun, Pendang, to attend a funeral ceremony.

Kedah JPJ director Stien Van Lutam said investigations found that the bus had not been transporting schoolchildren for the past two years due to a lack of demand.

“The situation led the driver, who is also the bus owner, to take up paid passenger transport services from one destination to another,” he said during a press conference at the Kuala Ketil JPJ Enforcement Station today.

Although the vehicle had valid insurance coverage and road tax, Van Lutam said it had breached the conditions of its operator’s licence by carrying passengers other than school students.

According to him, the bus was seized under Section 80(1) of the Land Public Transport Act 2010 for allegedly committing an offence under Section 22(3) of the same Act.

“The bus fulfilled all requirements, including having valid insurance and road tax, but it violated the operator’s licence conditions by carrying passengers other than school students,” he said.

The elderly driver was also brought in to have his statement recorded.

Meanwhile, Van Lutam said the Kedah JPJ is intensifying several enforcement operations to reduce road accidents and improve compliance among motorists in the state ahead of the festive season.

He said the Hari Raya Aidiladha Special Operation 2026 would run from May 24 to 31, with monitoring and enforcement activities focusing on strategic locations and accident-prone areas.

At the same time, the Kedah JPJ is continuing Op Luxury, which targets luxury vehicle owners found violating road regulations.

“From July 1 last year until now, a total of 23 luxury vehicles have been seized in Kedah through the operation,” he said.

Among the vehicles seized were high-end models such as the Porsche Cayenne, Mini Countryman and Mercedes-Benz A250 Sport. — Bernama