JPJ to Seize Commercial Vehicles of Firms Employing Foreign Drivers Without Valid Licences

GOMBAK: The Road Transport Department (JPJ) has announced a strict new enforcement directive under which commercial vehicles operated by companies employing foreign drivers without valid licenses will be confiscated, effective immediately.

JPJ Senior Director of Enforcement, Muhammad Kifli Ma Hassan, said this decisive action targets lorries, public service vehicles (PSVs), and tour buses operated by foreign nationals, a practice that is strictly prohibited under current Malaysian transport regulations.

“Foreigners are not permitted to hold vocational licenses such as the Goods Drivers License (GDL) or Public Service Vehicle (PSV) license,” he said during a press conference at the JPJ Enforcement Station in Gombak.

Under the Land Public Transport Act (APAD) 2010, companies found violating permit conditions by employing foreign drivers face legal action under Sections 22, 41, and 57. The court may seize the involved vehicles under Section 80 and forfeit them upon conviction.

According to Muhammad Kifli, the decision follows a disturbing increase in transport operators hiring foreigners, some for as little as RM2,500 per month, despite having no legal authority to drive commercial vehicles. Many of these drivers are also repeat traffic offenders.

As of July 2025, JPJ has issued a total of 2,733 summonses against foreigners driving commercial vehicles. These include 2,551 cases of driving without a GDL, 93 without a PSV, and 89 cases involving overloading offenses.

“Transport companies must take responsibility to ensure that their employees possess valid and legitimate documentation and the necessary qualifications. Non-compliance will not be tolerated,” he stressed.

The department is also working closely with other enforcement bodies in ongoing inspection and monitoring operations. Offenders may be penalized under Act 333 (Road Transport Act 1987), Act 715 (APAD 2010), and other related laws, which can include suspension or demerit points on driving licenses.

During a recent operation in Selayang, a foreign lorry driver was caught using a forged Malaysian identity card (MyKad), Competent Driving Licence (CDL), and Goods Driver Licence (GDL). JPJ has launched an investigation into the syndicate responsible for issuing the fake documents.

In another incident in Sungai Pusu, Gombak, an Indonesian national was arrested for driving a commercial vehicle without any valid documents. He has been handed over to the Kuala Lumpur Immigration Department (JIM) for further investigation.

Muhammad Kifli reiterated that the use of fake documents by foreign drivers is a serious offense and vowed that JPJ will take uncompromising action against any individual or company found involved in such illegal activities.