The Road Transport Department (JPJ) in Kelantan has clarified that the Rohingya community is not eligible to obtain Malaysian driving licences due to their refugee status.
State JPJ director Mohd Misuari Abdullah said the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) card held by the group is not an official identity document recognised for driving licence applications in Malaysia.
However, he noted that enforcement operations have not detected any Rohingya individuals holding valid Malaysian driving licences.
Instead, he said one common tactic observed during roadblocks is the presentation of UNHCR cards in an attempt to gain sympathy and avoid enforcement action.
He also dismissed claims that there are syndicates helping foreigners obtain driving licences illegally, stating that investigations and intelligence gathering have not found any such activities in Kelantan so far.
To curb the issue, JPJ Kelantan has intensified enforcement operations across several hotspots including Kota Bharu, Ketereh, Melor, Pasir Tumboh and Tanah Merah.
Authorities revealed that 576 vehicles driven by foreigners have been inspected this month alone, with 457 vehicles seized and 908 summonses issued for various offences under the Road Transport Act 1987.
Mohd Misuari also issued a stern warning to local vehicle owners who rent out or allow their vehicles to be used by Rohingya individuals without valid licences.
He said offenders will no longer only be compounded but will instead be charged in court under Section 23(2) of the Road Transport Act 1987.
Kelantan is among the earliest states taking this strict approach by bringing vehicle owners directly to court in the interest of public safety and more effective enforcement.
Previously, around 85 per cent of foreign drivers taken action against in Kelantan since January were reported to be from the Rohingya community, with most found driving without valid licences and committing various road offences.
