Elected reps advised not to use insignias

by Chuchill Edward, reporters@theborneopost.com. Posted on June 29, 2012, Friday

KUCHING: Elected representatives of both state and parliamentary constituencies have been advised not to place insignias and titles on the licence plates of their vehicles.

State Road Transport Department (JPJ) public relations officer Albert Clement said JPJ staff had given advice to elected representatives as well as issued warnings of future summonses during routine operations, dismissing claims that JPJ’s enforcers dared not do so.

“During operations, we normally advise them and warn them that we would be issuing statements. So as gentlemen, they should do what is proper,” Albert told The Borneo Post when contacted in Kapit yesterday.

He was responding to former Kuching North Datuk Bandar Datu Dr Yusuff Hanifah’s statement that JPJ should step up efforts to advise the public on the matter.

Albert said Yusuff’s opinion did have basis but to imply that enforcers were not stern was inaccurate.

He pointed out that licence plates should only have the vehicle registration numbers and letters in white on a black background.

“However, the public may place stickers, insignias and title crests at any other place on their vehicles. But then again, not everybody has the right to carry the insignias or title crests with them on their car,” he explained.

Yusuff was quoted as saying that he understood JPJ’s ruling was for the licence plate to be purely for vehicle licence numbers.

“This licence plate must not be embellished or tampered with insignias such as MP, ADUN, PDRM or any other state honorary titles for that matter,” he said.

He pointed out that such a policy and practice is universal and strictly observed by all civilised nations when enacting their land transport laws.

He added that ignorance can no longer be bliss in the enlightened world of cyberspace and information and communication technology.

By tradition and right, he said, state protocol since independence assigns the following vehicles with special licence plates – Head of State Sarawak and Chief Minister Sarawak.

Yusuff said however one could not escape noticing vehicles with MP, ADUN, PDRM and other state titles displayed either on the licence plate or on a plaque bearing such titles next to the licence plate.

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