Driver Complains Of Roadblock Fine Despite Having Approval Letters

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The e-hailing driver Lai Kok Sheng (right) and Luyang assemblyman Phoong Jin Zhe with the compound notice issued by police at the roadblock. (Sabah DAP pic)KOTA KINABALU: An e-hailing driver has complained of being fined RM5,000 at a roadblock, despite having all the necessary documents, when trying to take a passenger to another district a week ago.
Luyang assemblyman Phoong Jin Zhe said the driver had a company letter from the e-hailing company, an approval letter from the transport ministry, and his public service vehicle licence.
However, he was told by police that public transport vehicles such as buses and trains were not allowed to cross district borders.
“The police did not allow him to explain or make a U-turn and leave. They immediately issued him the notice for the fine despite him willing to drop off his passenger at the roadblock,” Phoong said in a statement today.
However, Sabah police chief Hazani Ghazali said in response that neither the driver nor the passenger had the police permit required for inter-district travel.
“Even if they have a Miti approval letter, all public transport vehicles are not permitted to cross districts now (under the state government’s directive),” he said.
“But it’s okay … we will investigate this further, but if this is not true, we will take action.”
Phoong said the driver, Lai Kok Sheng, had picked up a passenger in Penampang on June 12 who wanted to return home to Kinarut in the neighbouring Papar district.
“Lai said the police immediately issued him the compound notice despite him willing to drop off his passenger at the roadblock,” Phoong said.
“However, e-hailing was never mentioned in the SOPs. E-hailing is part of the essential services and, furthermore, his customer was an essential worker with an approval letter obtained from the international trade and industry ministry (Miti). Imposing this fine is unreasonable,” he said.
He said Lai sought his help after appeals to the relevant authorities had been futile.
He said transport minister Wee Ka Siong should explain why this was happening, and he urged the state government to provide a clear explanation on whether e-hailing drivers are allowed to cross districts.
Wee had previously said all public transport vehicles were allowed to operate with ministry approval letters during the movement control order period but they must obtain interstate and inter-district travel permission from the police.
Earlier this month, Sabah local government and housing minister Masidi Manjun had said workers in the essential services did not need Miti approval letters to cross districts, but must have employers’ letters and police travel permits. - FMT

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