JPJ Detains Rohingya Man in BMW & Bangladeshi Man in RM780k Land Cruiser for Driving Without Licence or Road Tax

Two foreign nationals, including a Rohingya man, were detained after being caught driving a BMW 525 and a Toyota Land Cruiser with expired road tax during a Road Transport Department (JPJ) enforcement operation in Kelantan.

The 36-year-old Rohingya man and a 51-year-old Bangladeshi permanent resident were nabbed under Op Luxury, according to JPJ Senior Enforcement Director Datuk Muhammad Kifli Ma Hassan.

Muhammad Kifli said the BMW 525 was stopped at Jalan Pasir Hor on 19 Sept, while the Toyota Land Cruiser SUV was intercepted in Tunjong the following day.

Image Credit: NST

Investigations found that the BMW was being driven without valid road tax or insurance. The Rohingya driver, who is believed to run a retail business in Kelantan, also did not possess a valid driving licence.

Further checks revealed that the man had allegedly purchased the BMW from a local individual, although ownership could not legally be transferred to his name.

Meanwhile, the Bangladeshi man was found driving a Toyota Land Cruiser reportedly worth RM780,000. He is said to have been working as a contractor in Kelantan for the past decade.

JPJ dismisses viral claim

Muhammad Kifli also denied viral claims on social media alleging that JPJ allows Rohingya individuals to obtain Malaysian driving licences.

He stressed that the matter had never been discussed or approved by the department, adding that such a move would be impossible under current laws.

According to him, Rohingya individuals are not recognised as citizens by any country, and the documents they possess are not valid for the purpose of obtaining a Malaysian driving licence.

Crackdown on illegal vehicle use

The enforcement chief said JPJ has also detected cases of businesses hiring foreigners to drive lorries and buses, as well as Malaysians renting out motorcycles and other vehicles to foreign nationals.

He noted that foreigners are not eligible to apply for Goods Driving Licences (GDL) or Public Service Vehicle (PSV) licences, which are required to operate commercial vehicles.

Muhammad Kifli urged employers and vehicle owners not to circumvent regulations for profit, warning that stricter enforcement measures are being implemented.

Image Credit: Utusan

Under the current approach, both the foreign driver and the registered vehicle owner can be issued summonses, with cases brought directly to court rather than settled through compound payments.

He added that commercial vehicles driven by foreigners may also be seized under existing laws.

According to Muhammad Kifli, Rohingya individuals are among those most frequently caught riding motorcycles, while Bangladeshis, Indonesians and Indians are among the foreign nationals commonly found driving lorries.

Featured Image Credit: NST, Utusan