PARLIAMENT | Transport Minister Anthony Loke reiterated today that the health check requirement for the renewal of Goods Driving Licence (GDL) and Public Service Vehicle (PSV) is not a new thing and had been practiced since the previous administration.
He said this in Dewan Rakyat today when answering an additional question from Abdul Azeez Abdul Rahim (BN-Baling) on a recent massive protest by lorry drivers against the requirement.
Azeez claimed that diabetic and high blood pressure patients were unable to renew the licences for three months.
According to Loke, the claim was merely an "inaccurate accusation".
This depends on evaluation by medical doctors, he added.
"If the doctor says they are fit to drive, there is no problem. That is according to the doctor's endorsement. It doesn't mean that everyone who has diabetes or high blood pressure is automatically not allowed to drive. That's not true.
"As long as the doctor says that they are being treated, given medication and can be allowed to drive, no problem.
"The authority to confirm health fitness is not under the Road Transport Department (RTD), but with the doctors. If the doctor says okay, no problem for the RTD to renew their licences," Loke said.
On Nov 2, Loke had said that the health checks were not a new policy introduced by Transport Ministry, but had been stipulated under the Land Transport Act 2010.
He added that there is also no compromise on the matter as it involves public safety.
Loke also said the ministry is always looking for ways to help the drivers, such as setting up a donation fund for them.
He was replying to another question by Azeez, who suggested the ministry to look into the welfare of drivers.
"YB Baling also has many donation funds right? Can help them as well. We do together.
"I hope no one would politicise issues like this, because this is a safety matter," Loke added. - Mkini
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