No Penalty If You Surrender False Licence
Following a major investigation over 10 months by the Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA), it has been discovered that at least 100,000 motorists – including those operating commercial vehicles – obtained their driving licences illegally over the last five years. The licences had been supplied by corrupt JPJ officers working with a doctor in Perak for between RM400 and RM1,500.
The illegal licences – both for ‘L’ and for fully qualified – were said to have been sold through driving schools in Perak. However, the ACA has also found evidence that the scam had been going on in other parts of the country, including East Malaysia.
The ACA has been able to obtain a list of the holders’ details of such licences and has been directed by the Deputy Prime Minister to check if such persons have been involved in accidents.
For a period of one month, the ACA will allow those possessing such illegally obtained licences to surrender them and if required, assist in investigations. Those who do so within this period will not have any action taken against them but they will be required to sit for the relevant tests again and pass them.
Failure to surrender the licences will make them liable to be charged under the Anti-Corruption Act 1997 which carries a jail term of up to 20 years and up to RM10,000 fine.
The ACA is also believed to be carrying out investigations into the falsification of vehicle ownership documents, an issue which has caused many innocent people serious problems.
