Dissatisfied with RTD, lorry drivers lodge police reports

KUALA LUMPUR - A group of lorry drivers claim that they have lost their source of income after their vehicles were not released from the custody of the Road Transport Department (RTD), despite having paid fines for overloading offences.

The group also alleged that some lorry owners have been blacklisted by banks for failing to pay monthly installments for their heavy vehicles, which can reach up to RM6,000 per month.

Lawyer Muhammad Khairuddin Annuar said his 18 clients have already paid their fines but received notices from RTD for forfeiture.

"This is unfair to my clients because the fines have been settled; it severely affects their livelihoods, which depend on these lorries," he said.

Khairuddin said this while accompanying his clients at the Sentul District Police Headquarters (IPD) to lodge reports over the issue today.

Meanwhile, lorry driver Shanmagaraja Kannaga Raja, 43, said he was one of the drivers who lost their source of income after his vehicle was seized by the RTD in December, last year.

"The fines have been paid, but my lorry has not been released. How can we make a living?

"The bank has sent me a notice to blacklist me. This is the first time my lorry was seized.

"We are not transporting drugs or illegal goods; my only offence was overloading.

"Moreover, the road tax and all the documents were valid and complete when it was detained," he said.

Another lorry driver, Teh Chee Min, 58, also expressed frustration when his lorry was issued a forfeiture notice, despite the fine imposed on him for overloading was settled.

"Lorry drivers are forced to carry more loads than allowed due to the rising costs, especially the price of fuel, tire prices and other maintenance costs.

"How are we supposed to make a living?. We can't even make ends meet sometimes if we follow the weight limits set.

"If lorry drivers increase their delivery charges, the prices of goods will go up.

"This is to cover the high expenses and operations costs at present.

"Just imagine, changing one tire that bursts already gives us a headache.

"We are not thieves, so I appeal to the authorities to release our lorries," he said.

In light of the matter, the group requested that the relevant authorities, especially the RTD and Transport Ministry to review the laws related to weight limits and release the seized lorries.