The Pahang Road Transport Department (JPJ) still finds lorries transporting bauxite during the moratorium on bauxite mining that only expires on Dec 31, said its director Mark Ujin.

However, he said, it could not be confirmed if the bauxite was legally or illegally transported as this was not within JPJ jurisdiction as it was for the Pahang Land and Mines Department (PTG) to determine.

“During our daily enforcement rounds, we do find lorries carrying bauxite... but we do not know if the bauxite is from legal mining activities or not.

“When we come across these lorries, we will usually hand them over to PTG for further action because where JPJ is concerned, illegal lorries are those without road tax and permit.

“Moreover, as for JPJ, as long as the lorry drivers do not flout the rules such as carrying excessive load or driving dangerously, no action will be taken against them on our side,” he said.

He was speaking to reporters after presenting business registration certificates for motor vehicle repair workshops in Kuantan today.

Yesterday, Natural Resources and Environment Minister Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said illegal mining might be going on during the moratorium.

For the record, the ministry had issued 25 special approved permits (Aps) for the purpose of clearing the bauxite stockpile within the moratorium period which started on Jan 15.

Mark said the JPJ also set up roadblocks in collaboration with PTG during the moratorium period to stop illegal bauxite-laden lorries.

On the motor vehicle workshop certificates, he said every workshop must be registered to ensure they met all conditions as only qualified workshops could repair the nine main components for the safety of a vehicle.

“The nine main components are the cowl panel, chassis frame, wheelhouse-rear, wheelhouse-front, roof panel assembly, windscreen pillar-front, windscreen pillar-rear, centre pillar and chassis panel,” he said.

He added that it was compulsory for all repair workshops to register effective January next year, failing which they would not be permitted to repair vehicles damaged in accidents.

“Action will be taken against unregistered workshops found carrying out repair works on accident-damaged vehicles as provided for under Section 66 of the Road Transport Act 1987,” he said.

- Bernama