File photo of cloned cars.
KOTA KINABALU: The public has been cautioned against buying cheap luxury cars brought in from neighbouring Brunei as they are suspected to be cloned vehicles, says the Sabah Road Transport Department (JPJ).Its director, Mohd Harris Ali, said cases of cloned luxury vehicles being brought into Sabah via border districts had been detected.
He said the department's intelligence unit was gathering information and tracking down those behind the syndicate.
"This year, we carried out a raid in Kota Kinabalu but could not make any arrest as the syndicate members got wind of the op and managed to evade capture," he told reporters during Ops Bersepadu held in collaboration with traffic police and the Immigration Department in Lahad Datu.
Harris said JPJ personnel in the border district of Sipitang had been directed to keep a close watch on incoming vehicles.
"We are taking this matter seriously," he added.
Cloned vehicles are typically stolen or old vehicles.
Syndicates misuse the identification details of a registered vehicle of a similar make and model and sell the cloned car to unsuspecting buyers.
On another matter, Harris said the number of motorists driving without a licence in Lahad Datu saw an increase of 79.78% from January to November over the same period last year.
A total of 5,778 cases of driving without a licence were recorded during this period, up from 3,214 cases last year.
Harris also said Lahad Datu JPJ had issued 11,621 summonses for various offences in the January-November period.
"Driving without a licence was the most common offence, accounting for almost 50% of the summonses.
"This shows a significant increase in the number of drivers without licences and we (will tighten) enforcement," he added.
