A syndicate selling “protection stickers” targeting operators of heavy vehicles has been found, and this syndicate seeks operators who are looking to evade fines and inspections of their vehicles at roadblocks, according to New Straits Times citing a report by Utusan Malaysia.
These stickers are purchased by some lorry drivers at prices from RM1,000 per vehicle, and the stickers are attached to vehicles in order to signal corrupt enforcement officers of the vehicles’ “protection” status. Prices of the protection stickers vary based on the vehicle’s weight and its intended zones of operation, and some operators purchase multiple stickers for wider coverage.
The syndicate allegedly involved insiders within enforcement agencies, who could earn up to RM10,000 a month per operator engaged, the report cited a lorry driver representative who requested anonymity. For example, an operator with a fleet of 10 lorries may pay syndicates RM100,000 a month for protection from enforcement agencies.
“These stickers often feature designs like an eagle symbol with specific codes. When syndicate members or enforcement officers spot the sticker, they recognise that the lorry has ‘paid’ and allow it to pass without inspection. The primary users of these stickers are trailers and tipper lorries,” the source said.
“This has been happening for years. As long as the sticker is displayed, the lorry can pass through roadblocks, regardless of its offence,” they added.
Citing an example, if a driver usually operates in Klang but enters Petaling Jaya, the lorry driver might still be stopped for being ‘out of zone’ despite having a sticker, because the sticker they purchased is only recognised for a given area. “In such situations, the operator must negotiate separately with the Petaling Jaya syndicate to obtain similar privileges for that area,” the source said.
The protection sticker syndicates are unlike ‘tonto’ services which are cheaper, who are illegal informants alerting drivers to the presence of roadblocks, as the protection sticker syndicates aim to enable uninterrupted travel despite the higher costs incurred by lorry operators, according to the report.
At present, the “protection” sticker syndicates appear to be limited to operators of heavy vehicles such as lorries, and taxi operators did not use these for “immunity” from law enforcement, another source told Utusan Malaysia.
Services offered by ‘cosmetic agents’ such as the changing of components – such as tyres – to new ones in good condition simply to pass Puspakom inspections came under the spotlight after a multiple-vehicle incident in Alor Gajah resulted in seven lives lost, stemming from a tyre that had detached from a lorry trailer.
On December 30 last year, Op Mengejut Puspakom was carried out on Puspakom centres nationwide to ensure that vehicles inspected at Puspakom inspection centres comply with required standards. Subsequently, Puspakom confirmed that two of its staff from its Wangsa Maju branch have been summoned to provide statements to the JPJ.
The road transport department and the ministry of domestic trade and cost of living (KPDN) will meet to discuss “cosmetic agents” at Puspakom vehicle inspection centres, and the agents have been said to offer rental tyres to owners of commercial vehicles in order for the vehicles to pass Puspakom inspections.
Last week, six Puspakom staff were suspended on suspicion of their involvement in a syndicate to approve inspection of heavy vehicles.
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Corrupt corrupt protect cronies then use corruption as a means to provide jobs and all made OK as some previously claim to save Malaysia.
Authority protection come from where?
another lead for Ministry of Transport and Home Ministry to look into. this kind of syndicate is a threat to our law and order. something home ministry should view as a threat to national security. please catch and punish severely these syndicate master mind!… also internal investigation of poor performing ‘penguatkuasa’ which betrayed our nation with their enrolment into this syndicate. Ministry of Transport have a lot of work to do now.. after many years of neglect and poor management.
Dare to catch all? Later boss does not want to vote!
How to dare. The enforcement is JPJ. Authority protection is who? Hahahaa
Go after the sticker for what? The sticker is not a weapon itself. Go after the officers lah.
Anwar menang rasuah hapus
Rasuah macam ini sudah berlanjutan dari zaman Kerajaan dulu, dah puluh tahun, bukan hanya saja Kerajaan PH. Dah Ada dalam Darah, susah nak hapuskan atau membanteras rasuah. Dah Halal….
I think they are over exaggerating the payment. Problem is taxes on lorries and parts are ridiculously high. And the puspakom inspection can be delegated to authorised service centres when lorries undergo term servicing saving on time wastage.
Gomen should assist lorry owners to be more efficient and not burden them with unecessary inspections.
Sadly syndicate heads are not arrested. The Kingpin behind all these practices is guaranteed to have executive power and protected.
Transport Minister and Sprm please take action…..
Hi time the authorities come down hard on a disease of giving and taking bribes which has plagued our country for decades, which has resulted in lost of innocent lives and damage to property. Penalties and jail term should be so severe so that those considering in carrying out these deplorable activities will have to think twice. Ministers and senior officials must stop politicking and stop blaming each others but take responsibility for the current situation get down to the ground frequently to understand the current situation. Conducting one off audits and catching a few small fries is not going to solve the problem with corruption that is plaguing our beautiful country. If we can have strict laws for drink driving why not stricter laws for corruption.
is this the legacy from prevoius administration till the new one not able to ‘put-it-off’? if this calim is ture, then were the payment goes? back to gov pocket? no audit at all?
decades after decades of incompetence and corruption, now being exposed under current regime, and some of you want to kick them down to go back to old corrupt ways.
That is how the previous ones justify themselves to save Malaysia remember until son in law also runs away from the law.
it comes back to the question, why transport industry in such as sorry state. My experience in 3 logistics companies concludes that it is the client/shipper/manufacturing are the main culprits in both the overweight issues and also pressure on the rates (which is the same for 20 years). Many transporter would rather comply with the normal weight limitation as it would save cost in term of fuel and maintenance, however its the shipper who dictates the weight of loading/ container stuffing. underdeclare is the word of it. transporter nowadays earning 2.7-3.00/km which is barely sufficient to operate w/out profit.
*** shock and laugh…fell off chair!!! ***
The way these ministries or ministers discovering these kind of antics… is like saying…oh we just discovered that the earth circles around the sun.
Corruption is widely opened, from the top to the bottom level status in every department
is this the legacy from prevoius administration till the new one not able to ‘put-it-off’? if this calim is ture, then were the payment goes? back to gov pocket? no audit at all?