Transport industry tainted by the wheels of graft

PETALING JAYA: There are many reasons why lorries are increasingly getting involved in accidents – bad drivers and poor maintenance are partly to blame.

“But one other major reason is corruption,” says Selangor and Kuala Lumpur Lorry Operators Association secretary-general Alvin Choong.

“Corruption plays a part here. The transport industry is among those riddled with corruption.”

Choong said there is no proper routine in place to check whether the SOP is implemented on time.

“A lot of lorries are overloaded, which affects the braking system and tyres,” he said.

“The recent case in Melaka is an example of maintenance issues with the tyres not being properly secured, causing it to disengage from the vehicle.

“Another factor is driver negligence. Many often fail to carry out proper checks on vehicles.”

Choong said a competent driver should also know when tyres are wobbly when driving.

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He pointed out that the authorities or government only react when something grave happens, instead of having constant monitoring. As such, he said it boils down to regular enforcement and a change of mindset among drivers and operators.

“It cannot just be about profiteering while neglecting maintenance or the hiring of competent drivers. All drivers need to be trained to have professional driving skills and early detection of any failure,” said Choong.

Peninsular Malaysia Tour Bus Operators Association president Steven Chong Sin Wah said errant lorry and heavy vehicle operators are using borrowed tyres to pass the Puspakom inspection and then changing back to their old tyres after getting certification.

This, he said, is among the reasons behind the many accidents involving lorries and heavy vehicles.

“When they are about to go for an inspection, they replace worn-out tyres with good ones that are borrowed and they get a pass from Puspakom.

“If the axles are not serviced for a long time, the tyres can come off and when they do, you cannot avoid them on the road.

“This issue is not new because if the axle bearing is spoilt, tyres will come off,” he said.

Chong said it is important to have well-lit highways, another contributing factor to road accidents as drivers are unable to see objects like tyres in the dark.

On bus drivers not having proper licensing, he said companies have to ensure that regulations are followed thoroughly.