Sarawak to seek federal review on lorry industry concerns, says state transport minister

KUCHING (Feb 5): Sarawak Transport Minister Dato Sri Lee Kim Shin will request for a meeting with his federal counterpart Anthony Loke to deliberate and address various challenges faced by lorry operators in the state.

Given Sarawak’s unique geographical conditions, the implementation of federal transport policies, particularly those affecting commercial vehicles, may require review.

“The minister understands that Sarawak’s lorry industry has been facing mounting compliance pressures which require urgent attention and practical solutions,” the Ministry of Transport Sarawak (MoTS) said in a statement.

The statement followed a Lorry Transport Stakeholder Engagement Session on Wednesday, involving government agencies and industry representatives to discuss regulatory and operational issues affecting the sector.

Among the key matters raised were the phased implementation of Speed Limiter Devices (SLD) on commercial vehicles, the mandatory installation of Global Positioning System (GPS) devices, as well as enforcement issues related to the Weight Restriction Order (WRO).

MoTS said lorry operators expressed concern that only four authorised SLD installation agents are currently operating in Sarawak.

They feared the number may not be sufficient to cater to the large volume of commercial lorries across the state, adding that installations might not be completed within the timeframe set by the federal government.

“They further cautioned that the limited number of agents could potentially lead to restricted choices and unhealthy monopolistic practices, resulting in higher compliance costs and operational challenges for the industry,” the ministry said.

In a response, Lee said he understood that Sarawak requires a more flexible and practical implementation approach.

He noted that the number of authorised SLD agents should be increased, preferably with broader distribution across Sarawak, to facilitate smoother implementation and fair competition.

The session also touched on issues relating to lorry load limits and road infrastructure capacity.

Lee welcomed ongoing coordination among the Public Works Department (JKR) Sarawak, Ministry of Infrastructure and Port Development Sarawak and Commercial Vehicle Licensing Board (LPKP) on road classifications, including proposals involving R5 roads and their upgrading or reclassification under List 1, to better align infrastructure standards with commercial vehicle operations and enforcement requirements.

“We remain committed to safeguarding road safety while ensuring that policy implementation remains fair, practical and reflective of Sarawak’s on-the-ground realities, through continued engagement with both federal authorities and industry stakeholders,” MoTS added.

Among those present were Kota Sentosa assemblyman Wilfred Yap, Bukit Assek assemblyman Joseph Chieng, permanent secretary to MoTS Datu Wong Hee Sieng, LPKP director Cornelia Wong Chui, Ministry of Infrastructure and Port Development Sarawak’s Head of the Infrastructure and Project Coordination Division Chang Chee Kiong.

Also in attendance were representatives from the Road Transport Department Sarawak, LPKP, Puspakom Sarawak Sdn Bhd, the Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research, Royal Malaysia Police as well as industry associations such as the Federation of Sarawak Lorry Association, Sarawak Lorries Transportation Association, Sarawak Forwarding Agencies Association and the Sibu Automobile Repairers Association.