Weed out lorry drivers who pose grave danger to others

On Oct 31, about 500 lorry drivers gathered near the transport ministry (MoT) building in Putrajaya to stage a protest. They were angry at having to pass medical examinations for renewal of their vocational driving licences from Oct 1.

They were also unhappy with the action taken against them for overloading, failing vehicle inspections, reduction in demerit points, and summonses, which require a sizeable chunk of their income to settle.

A group, led by Selangor Parti Rakyat Malaysia chairman Manikavasagam Sundram, submitted a memorandum to Road Transport Department (JPJ) enforcement division director Khairul Anuar Bachok.

Manikavasagam claimed representatives of lorry drivers had submitted four requests to meet Transport Minister Loke Siew Fook but had received no reply. He warned that a mass rally will be organised near Parliament House if MoT does not respond to the memorandum within a week.

Another group, which included women and children, was led by former PKR leader-turned-Barisan Nasional supporter B Kalaivanar. He said: “The government does not care about lorry drivers. They are suffering yet the government is looking the other way.”

A Pahang lorry drivers’ group, led by Jayasim Tanapal, said they were demanding a meeting with Loke following a few decisions by the ministry, which he said discriminated against them.

Two days earlier, Deputy Transport Minister Kamarudin Jaafar confirmed there had been no change in conditions for the renewal of the goods driving licence (GDL) for lorry drivers. He said JPJ had maintained the same renewal process since 1994.

He pointed out that doctors conducting medical examinations are subject to the method determined by the health ministry. In 2011, the ministry’s Occupational Health Unit, under the Diseases Control Division, had issued a 33-page Medical Examination Standards for Vocational Driver’s Licensing.

In my letter “Sue company, not driver”, published in 2010, I wrote: “Another area of importance, but rampantly neglected, is the renewal of PSV licences. Many drivers do not undergo the brief check-up by a medical practitioner but instead buy pre-signed forms for renewal. The JPJ has rightfully stipulated that PSV drivers must pass a basic health test annually but allow it to be easily circumvented.

“As a result, we have many commercial vehicle drivers, who include those carrying goods in lorries, driving around like a time bomb.”

Since then, I have written many more letters regarding renewal of GDL and PSV licences. In my letter, “Focus on health of commercial vehicle drivers”, published in 2012, I wrote: “If all unhealthy commercial drivers are taken off the road, our road public transport will be crippled. It will also be unnecessarily cruel to them and their families”.

In yet another letter, “Fanning emotions of cabbies can backfire”, published in 2013, I wrote that Ampang MP Zuraida Kamaruddin and Kuala Langat MP Abdullah Sani Abdul Hamid were at KL Sentral to help taxi drivers distribute “We Want Permits” A3-size stickers, as permits had been frozen by the then Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) because there were too many in the market.

Looks like history is repeating itself with opposition party members now making use of lorry drivers as pawns. In recent years, taxi drivers have staged one protest after another but to no avail and have gained no sympathy from the public. Some lorry drivers have now taken over where these taxi drivers have left off.

Taxi and lorry drivers are the few groups in the country with the audacity to demand for meetings with Cabinet ministers. But problems will not be solved by airing grievances or venting emotions without offering practical solutions.

Poor handling by the authorities over the years have caused many issues to simmer below the surface, now made worst by shooting from the hip.

Many drivers used to pay RM15 for a doctor’s signature on the application form to renew their vocational driving licence, but will now have to cough up to RM80 for a proper medical examination they are likely to fail.

As the safety of other road users cannot be jeopardised, there should be no compromise on health requirements of commercial vehicle drivers.

However, the authorities could consider granting provisional licences to those who fail their medical examination on condition they undergo prescribed treatment or rehabilitation.

Those who refuse or suffer from low visual acuity, hearing loss or other impairments, that could affect their ability to operate a commercial vehicle, should not be allowed to continue operating as they pose a grave danger to themselves and other road users.

YL Chan is an FMT reader.