A foreign national was caught driving a tour bus without a valid licence during a Road Transport Department (JPJ) inspection at the Genting Highlands Terminal in Bentong on Wednesday.
JPJ Pahang’s Corporate Unit said the inspection, conducted at about 12.30pm, found that the bus had been carrying around 20 Malaysian passengers from Kuala Lumpur to Genting Highlands.
The bus was stopped for inspection after it had dropped off its passengers at the terminal.
“Checks found that the driver was a foreign national who did not possess a valid Class E Competent Driving Licence (CDL) or a Public Service Vehicle (PSV) licence required to operate a tour bus.
“During the inspection, the driver claimed it was his first time driving the bus and that he was merely replacing the regular driver, who was unable to report for duty that day,” the unit said in a statement on Thursday.
The bus was seized for further action.
Enforcement action was also taken against the bus owner for allowing an unlicensed individual to operate the vehicle.
JPJ Pahang stressed that passenger safety must never be compromised, adding that all bus operators are responsible for ensuring their drivers hold valid licences and the necessary qualifications before allowing them to operate.
