The Department of Road Transport found that lorry operators are still using ‘Tonto’ stickers to avoid enforcement, and fined more than 400,000 vehicles across the country.
kuala lumpur: The Road Transport Department (JPJ) has found that some lorry operators, especially in the Klang Valley, are still using ‘Tonto’ stickers to protect their vehicles from enforcement action.
JPJ senior enforcement director Datuk Muhammad Kiflee Ma Hasan said it was believed the companies involved were paying individuals or Tonto groups to monitor the activities of enforcement teams and disseminate information to lorry drivers.
He said the groups will follow JPJ enforcement personnel as soon as the operation begins and will use communication devices to provide real-time location updates to drivers of lorries with special stickers, allowing them to lie low until the operation ends before resuming their journey.
“These lorries have also been found using back roads to evade detection and enforcement action,” he said at a press conference after the special drive on commercial vehicles here today.
Muhammad Kiflee said the JPJ took the activity seriously and would refer the matter to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) for further action, including the possibility of conducting a joint operation.
“JPJ wishes to issue a strict warning to lorry operators not to hire or avail the services of Tonto for the safety of the vehicles under their control,” he said.
On enforcement data, Muhammad Kiflee said the JPJ had taken action against more than 400,000 out of 2.58 million commercial vehicles across the country for various offenses between 2024 and April 2026.
He said 45,986 JPJ(P)22 notices were issued in 2024, followed by 57,174 in 2025 and 14,885 notices were issued between January and April this year.
Apart from issuing summons, the JPJ also seized 753 lorries for violating permit conditions and provisions under the Land Public Transport Act 2010, with Penang recording the highest number of cases at 133, followed by Selangor (125) and Pahang (101).
Muhammad Kiflee said JPJ had also initiated seizure proceedings against 30 lorries between 2024 and 2026 under Section 80(1) of the Land Public Transport Act 2010 for carrying load exceeding the permitted limit.
He said, “We would like to emphasize to all lorry operators that any vehicle carrying more than 50% of the permitted weight will be confiscated, and JPJ will seek a court order for confiscation.”
Muhammad Kiflee said the operators’ excuses of rushing to complete more trips or maximizing profits are out of date and no longer acceptable.
