JPJ To Deploy 226 Officers For ‘Op Selamat’

KUCHING: A total of 226 officers of state Road Transport Department (JPJ) will be on duty during ‘Op Selamat’ held in connection with Hari Raya Aidilfitri, which kicked off on Wednesday and will run until July 13.

Head of state JPJ enforcement division Mohamat Johari Mat Nor said ‘Op Selamat’ is an integrated operation with state Road Safety Department (JKJR), Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) and Commercial Vehicle Licensing Board (LPKP) to enhance road safety so as to bring down the road accident rate.

This year, two special operations focussing on the safety of motorcyclists will be held in conjunction with the Aidilfitri celebration.

“A relatively high number of road accidents involve motorcyclists based on past records. So we will have a special operation each before Raya June 30 to July 3 and after Raya July 11 to 13 for motorcycles.

“Such special operations are held simultaneously not just throughout Sarawak but the whole country,” he told reporters of See Hua Group at state JPJ headquarters off Kuching-Serian Road here yesterday.

Johari assured that stern actions would be taken against traffic offenders throughout the operation.

One of the measures, he said, would be deploying officers at the three major bus terminals in Kuching, Sibu and Miri.

While all coaches will be checked for their tyres, brakes and other vital parts to ensure safety, urine tests are also compulsory for drivers and assistant drivers.

“We are there to make sure coaches going for four or so hours’ journey come with a second driver. LPKP will also ensure that all coaches comply with regulations,” pointed out Johari.

He added that two teams of JPJ officers would be on duty at major bus terminals daily, each team having two officers.

“On top of that, we will conduct patrols at strategic spots such as along the federal road. Our officers on duty will have the beacon light on.

“Officers in plain clothes will also be deployed to photograph offenders who beat the red light, make illegal overtaking, use mobile phone while driving as well as not wearing helmets.”

According to Johari, pictures will be taken and subsequently validated before summonses are issued to offenders.

He said state JPJ had also met with bus and lorry operators to ensure that employers play a role in reminding their drivers to abide by road safety regulations.

To a question, he said the situation in Sarawak had been a lot better than that in Peninsular Malaysia.

However, six drivers tested positive for drugs during the operation last year.

Johari disclosed that ‘Op Selamat’ would take days off during the first and second day of Hari Raya Aidilfitri.

Any complaints or suggestions can be sent to aduantrafik@jpj.gov.my while the state JPJ operations room is reachable at 082-628725. - BP