The Road Transport Department (JPJ) does not have the authority to arbitrarily revoke the driving licences of individuals certified as disabled, according to Transport Minister Anthony Loke.
According to The Star, Loke emphasised that the majority of disabled individuals are fully capable of driving or riding their vehicles safely. Addressing the media on Thursday (Jan 23), he stated, “If there is a specific or isolated case involving disabled drivers, we will review whether their licences should be revoked, but I must stress that this is not our policy.”
He further explained, “We cannot generalise all disabled individuals because many of them are safe drivers and are heavily dependent on their driving licences. For instance, we have many e-hailing drivers among disabled persons, including those who are deaf or mute.”
The minister’s remarks came in response to a statement by the Persatuan Pengguna Jalan Raya Kebangsaan (PPJK), which proposed that JPJ revoke the licences of individuals certified by the Health Ministry as mentally disabled.
Loke firmly opposed this suggestion, warning that such a blanket policy could unfairly target and harm the broader disabled community. “The implementation of such a measure should not be generalised as it risks victimising all disabled individuals,” he added.
This clarification underscores the government’s commitment to upholding the rights and independence of disabled individuals while ensuring public safety.
