4-day nationwide heavy vehicle ban

KUCHING: The Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers (FMM) has announced a four-day ban on certain heavy vehicles on all roads across Sarawak, Sabah, and Peninsular Malaysia during the Chinese New Year festivities.

The ban is scheduled for February 8-9 and February 12-13.

According to Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers (FMM) website, this initiative is part of the government’s road safety campaign.

“The ban is part of the government’s efforts to reduce road accidents during the festive period,” it said, adding specific heavy vehicle categories as defined by the Road Transport Department (RTD).

Restricted vehicles include car carriers, tippers, dumpers, tipping lorries with a laden weight (BDM) exceeding 7,500kg, low loaders, pole trailers, bulk cement tankers, platform trailers, logging trucks, wheeled heavy machinery, and tractors.

The prohibition also extends to lorries transporting cement, iron, steel, stones, sand, earth, construction materials, tailing, tin, coal, and other mineral materials.

Exceptions are granted for container lorries transporting goods from ports or airports to industrial areas within the same state and vice versa, which are permitted on the road from 12 midnight to 8 am on the designated dates.

This exemption also applies to lorries carrying electronic, electrical, chemical, palm oil, and rubber-related industrial materials. Lorries transporting palm oil and rubber products from plantations to industrial areas and unladen cargo lorries are also barred from the roads during these times.

Additionally, mobile cranes and cement mixer lorries will face restrictions from 6 pm to 6 am on the same dates.

However, heavy wheeled machinery, mobile cranes, tow trucks engaged in emergency work, and vehicles carrying goods not listed in the restricted categories are allowed to operate during the ban period.