Some people apparently cheered when Anthony Loke resigned as Transport Minister. According to Loke, they believed his departure meant they could start overloading their lorries again.
His parting challenge to the Road Transport Department (JPJ)? Prove them wrong.
- Loke says some welcomed his resignation, expecting overloaded-lorry enforcement to ease.
- He wants JPJ to maintain its crackdown regardless of who leads the ministry.
- Earlier enforcement figures show the scale of the issue.
Loke Says Some Cheered His Resignation
During his farewell address on 11 November, Loke made a striking admission about the reaction to his departure, as reported by Free Malaysia Today.
“I'm aware that when I announced my resignation, some people cheered.”— Anthony Loke, former Transport Minister
He claimed those individuals expected the crackdown on overloaded vehicles to ease. Instead, he challenged JPJ to continue enforcing the rules, regardless of who takes over the ministry.
The Overloaded Lorry Crackdown Had Already Faced Resistance
Loke's tough stance had previously drawn objections from sections of the transport industry.
In November 2025, Carz reported that he refused to relax lorry load limits despite pressure from operators and some MPs.
The dispute involved enforcement penalties, vehicle seizures and operating costs. However, there is no evidence linking those involved to the people Loke said celebrated his departure.
JPJ's Overloaded Lorry Crackdown: The Numbers
JPJ's Op Perang Lebih Muatan, conducted from 14 October to 31 December 2025, illustrates the scale of its enforcement efforts. Bernama reported the following results:
Source: Bernama. Figures relate to the 2025 operation, not enforcement following Loke's resignation.
Loke had already warned in January 2026 that enforcement would continue beyond individual operations.
Will JPJ Stay Tough Without Loke?
Loke reminded JPJ that it already has the legal powers to act against overloaded vehicles, speeding and illegal racing. He also urged MIROS to continue strengthening road safety research, according to Bernama.
His warning comes after deadly road tragedies, including the 2025 UPSI bus crash and FRU collision, which reinforced his determination to improve road safety.
The question now is whether JPJ's crackdown will remain just as firm without him.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did some people allegedly celebrate Anthony Loke's resignation?
According to Loke, certain parties believed his departure would lead to weaker enforcement against overloaded commercial vehicles. Their identities and reactions have not been independently verified.
Will JPJ stop its overloaded-lorry crackdown?
No announcement of an end to the crackdown is established by Loke's remarks. He urged JPJ to maintain enforcement regardless of changes in Transport Ministry leadership.
What is Op Perang Lebih Muatan?
It is a JPJ enforcement operation targeting overloaded commercial vehicles. During the 14 October–31 December 2025 operation, JPJ inspected 169,965 heavy vehicles and found 3,563 overloaded.
