Kuala lumpur: The government will not be deterred by 'tontos', informants who provide tip-offs in an attempt to sabotage the Road Transport Department's (JPJ) enforcement operations against overloaded heavy vehicles, the Dewan Rakyat was told today. Transport Minister Anthony Loke said the challenges have prompted the Ministry of Transport to request allocations from the Ministry of Finance to equip enforcement officers with body-worn cameras and firearms to ensure their safety.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Loke stated that there are challenges posed by these tontos, but the government cannot give in to such threats when enforcing the law, as this concerns road safety and human lives. He was responding to a supplementary question from Roslan Hashim (PN-Kulim Bandar Baharu) about enforcement challenges in overloading cases and the current use of the demerit points system. Loke mentioned that the system remains in place but will be reviewed to ensure it is more effective and fair, especially for drivers pressured by operators to carry excess loads.
He emphasized that enforcement is no longer focused solely on drivers, but also targets companies and operators who breach regulations. He noted that drivers are not the only ones fined, as companies involved in overloading offences may face vehicle ownership suspension, and operating licences can be revoked if violations are repeated.
In response to a question from Cha Kee Chin (PH-Rasah), Loke revealed that action was taken against 3,604 heavy vehicles for breaching permitted load limits between Oct 14 and Dec 31 last year. The overloading cases covered several categories, including vehicles with serious overloads exceeding 70 per cent, which can compromise road safety, vehicle stability, braking performance, and infrastructure durability.
Loke shared preliminary data from the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM), showing 232 fatal accidents involving heavy vehicles in 2023, increasing to 260 in 2024, before declining to 163 in 2025. These figures include accidents involving lorries, trailers, and heavy goods vehicles, regardless of whether the vehicle was the primary cause or merely involved in the incident.
He concluded that the decline provides an early indication that strengthened enforcement measures on heavy vehicle safety compliance, including load control, have helped reduce the risk of fatal accidents on Malaysian roads.