The transport ministry will set up a task force to tackle the issue of overloaded vehicles, and this task force will be given the mandate to to implement enforcement methods, reported New Straits Times.
“The task force will be chaired by the transport ministry secretary-general Datuk Jana Santhiran Muniayan, and will involve various stakeholders. I want to ensure that this task force runs smoothly and is effective in its implementation,” said transport minister Anthony Loke.
Should there be immediate action required, they can be executed without further study, Loke said. The remarks come after a fatal multiple-vehicle crash at KM204 on the North-South Expressway near Alor Gajah last month left seven dead and 33 injured, with the cause identified to be a tyre that had detached from a lorry trailer.
The transport ministry also plans to amend the Road Transport Act 1987 (Act 333), the Land Public Transport Act 2010 (Act 715), and the Commercial Vehicle Licensing Board Act 1987 (Act 334) to curb overloading of vehicles, New Straits Times reported.
The proposal for amendments include the setting of compound and fine rates according to the percentage of overloading for offences relating to carrying excess cargo, and the proposal will also examine the possibility of imposing liability on the consignee, the transport minister said.
“Logistics companies often claim they are forced to overload vehicles due to low payment rates from consignees. They argue that without overloading, they would incur losses and be unable to cover their operational costs. We want to examine that responsibility. If there is overloading, the (consignee) company should (also) be held accountable,” Loke said.
The gazetting of regulations for pick-up trucks often used by small traders is also being considered by the ministry, in order for these vehicles to safety carry goods as long as they do not exceed the permitted load limit, he added.
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“Logistics companies often claim they are forced to overload vehicles due to low payment rates from consignees. …”
You sure that’s the reason? Not because of high diesel price?
Got problem? Setup a committee then wash hands and go back to selling more number plates. This is our Transport Minister job now.
Ahlokekor,tackle corruption in Puspakom and JPJ first.
When rotten vehicles can be “kaotim”,no amount of task force is gonna work.
All these overloading thing has been “memantau” for donkey years.
From the trojan horse to you,rakyat havent seen improvement.In fact accidents getting more dashat.
Lets see how well this goes as Malaysian sayings our enforcement are very lacks or lackey if go through the table but still better than the fella who says everything is drinking to blame and none of this are caused by drinking.
You only amend law if STRICT enforcement cannot does not help . No point set higher penalty but lack of enforcement.