Foreigners are not allowed to drive trailers despite pressure from the industry who claim there is a shortage of drivers, said Transport Minister Anthony Loke.
Citing data from the domestic transport sector for 2022, according to Anthony, there are 766 transport companies with a number of prime movers of 16,465 and trailers of 61,616 while the number of drivers is 12,326.
“The government’s position so far is that there is no policy to allow foreign drivers to drive trailers despite industry players insisting that more trailer drivers are needed to make the country competitive,” he said in a press conference after chairing the National Logistics Task Force (NLTF) Meeting Bill 1/ 2023 here on Tuesday.
To overcome the problem, Anthony said, the port board has been asked to work with the port operator because there are trailer drivers in the port area but they do not have a class E license, which is a heavy motorcar license without a load of more than 7,500 kilograms.
“We want to train drivers who work in the port area so that they can have an E license and a GDL (goods vehicle license), that is, when they leave the port, they have the option of becoming a haulier (transporter) driver,” he said.
Regarding the management of the container depot, he said, there are various disputes between the logistics company and the shipping company in terms of the management of charges at the depot but no consensus has been reached so far.
“They (stakeholders) are asking the government to regulate container depots so that there is a legal framework that includes charge management and standard services.
“If the standard service cannot be achieved, the government through the Land Public Transport Agency (APAD) can impose action on the container depot operator,” he said.
Commenting on the confiscation of 336 kilograms (kg) of heroin that was brought in a container from Malaysia to Brisbane, Australia on March 13, Anthony said he did not have detailed information about it but insisted the ministry was taking it seriously and would immediately investigate the issue.
On Monday, the Secretary of the Royal Malaysian Police, Datuk Noorsiah Mohd Saaduddin was reported to have said that the Australian authorities seized the drug, estimated to be worth AUD268.8 million (RM789.56 million), with a check finding that the shipment was declared as solar panel accessories in a container that arrived on Last March 13 in Brisbane Port from Malaysia.
“If any cargo originating from Malaysia is found to be using our port to transport prohibited goods, especially drugs, it is a very serious offense and I will get more information about it from which port,” said Anthony.
