A Rohingya man has admitted knowingly breaking traffic laws after he was detained during a road enforcement operation in Selangor, claiming financial hardship left him with little choice.
The man, believed to be in his 40s, was stopped during Ops Pemandu Warga Asing (PEWA), a joint operation conducted by the Jabatan Pengangkutan Jalan (JPJ) Selangor and Majlis Bandaraya Subang Jaya (MBSJ) around Subang Jaya on Tuesday.
Working as a cleaner, the man admitted to riding a motorcycle with an expired road tax and without a valid driving licence.
“I know what I’m doing is wrong, but I’m forced into this situation,” he said after being detained.
According to him, he has been living in Malaysia for about 15 years and earns around RM1,400 a month to support his wife and children.
He explained that RM800 of his monthly income goes towards rent, while another RM270 is used to pay instalments on the motorcycle.
The man said he was unable to legally purchase a motorcycle because he only possesses a United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) card and lacks other official documents.
As a result, the motorcycle was allegedly registered under a friend’s name.
“I know it’s an offence. I don’t have a licence and the road tax expired a long time ago,” he admitted.
“But what choice do I have? It’s already difficult to find work. I was fortunate a friend helped me get this job. Without an income, how am I supposed to feed my family?”
The operation, which began at 10am, targeted several hotspots across Subang Jaya where foreign nationals were suspected of driving or riding vehicles without proper documentation.
Officers from JPJ and MBSJ conducted patrols and vehicle inspections, leading to multiple enforcement actions throughout the day.
Reporters accompanying the operation observed that many individuals detained cited financial difficulties and employment needs as reasons for operating vehicles without valid licences or documentation.
Meanwhile, Selangor JPJ deputy director Ahmad Kamarunzaman Mehat said the integrated operation involved 36 JPJ officers and 30 MBSJ enforcement personnel.
A total of 120 vehicles were inspected during the operation, with enforcement action taken against 34 of them.
Authorities issued 336 notices for various offences under the Road Transport Act 1987 and related regulations.
Of that total, 218 were summons notices, while 29 were vehicle prohibition notices, 29 inspection directives, 34 vehicle seizure notices and 26 notices requiring individuals to attend investigations.
JPJ stressed that enforcement operations targeting unlicensed drivers and undocumented vehicle users will continue to ensure road safety and compliance with Malaysian laws.
