JPJ Can Bar Licence Renewals For Unpaid Summonses - Loke

Transport Minister Anthony Loke clarified that the road transport department (JPJ) has the authority to prevent drivers with outstanding traffic summonses from renewing their driver's licence and road tax.

This is in response to Ngeh Koo Ham (PH-Beruas), who questioned JPJ's ability to do so, citing a previous court ruling.

Loke acknowledged the 2008 Kuching High Court ruling that prevented JPJ from taking such action, but highlighted that the decision was overturned by the Court of Appeal in 2012.

“The Court of Appeal’s decision meant that JPJ’s actions of barring the renewal of one’s driver’s licence or road tax (over outstanding summonses) is legitimate and right under the law,” he said.
According to the transport minister, if there are any ongoing cases or concerns involving the violation of any of the Act's provisions, the JPJ director, acting under the authority conferred by Section 119B of the Road Transport Act, has the right to ban any transactions that fall under the Act's jurisdiction.

The JPJ has the authority to take similar actions under the Commercial Vehicles Licensing Board Act of 1987, Loke added. He specifically cited Sections 17 and 29 of the Act, which likely grant the JPJ comparable powers to restrict transactions or implement other enforcement measures in cases of non-compliance.