Belait Motorists Panic Over Rumours On Driving Licence
By Liza Mohd

Kuala Belait - The Belait Land Transport Department (LTD) has received more than 100 applications for international driving licences following a rumour - which later proved to be untrue - that Brunei driving licences are no longer valid in Sabah or Sarawak.

The rumour had sparked panic among Belait residents, who frequently cross the border to visit their relatives or shop in the Malaysian border town of Miri.

This caused a swift increase in the number of applications for an international driving licence in Belait LTD.

Talk had been rife that a few Bruneians had been fined $200 to $300 by Miri police when they reached the toll booth leading to Miri's Baram Bridge for supposedly breaking the law by driving in Miri with only a Brunei driving licence.

Bruneian drivers going to Limbang also allegedly faced the same problem when encountering the Limbang police.

However, Haji Mat Zahri bin Haji Yusof, the Director of Brunei's Land Transport Department, has denied these allegations.

In a statement, Haji Mat Zahri said, "According to the relevant authorities in Limbang, there has been no record of action taken against Brunei drivers using valid Brunei driving licences in Limbang.

"In relation to this, the Land Transport Department wishes to inform the public that in accordance with the United Nations Convention on Road Traffic concluded at Geneva on 19 September 1949 to which both countries have enacted relevant laws, Brunei driving licences are valid for use in Malaysia whilst under temporary stay and vice-versa, Malaysian driving licences are also valid in Brunei Darussalam under similar arrangement."

Meanwhile, a senior official in Belait LTD said that there had been no instructions or official statement from the land transport authorities in Miri stating that Brunei driving licences are not recognised in Sabah or Sarawak.

"So far, there was no proof to confirm the rumour as alleged by the applicants, who heard the rumours and rushed to Belait LTD since two weeks ago to apply for international driving licences.

"We urged those who alleged they had been fined to produce an official receipt following the summons for further clarification or action if necessary," said the senior official of Belait LTD.

However, he said the Brunei LTD would not be rejecting the applications for international driving licences and would not stop applicants from doing so in spite of the untrue rumour.

The process for obtaining an international driving licence takes about a week and the one year fee is $15.

Meanwhile, the Miri LTD and the Miri Police have denied carrying out any operation to catch Brunei driving licence holders after checking their summons records.

In Miri, Syahira Azani reported: ASP Choo Yik Kok, head of traffic police in Miri, said the rumours that the Brunei driving licence is invalid in Malaysia is untrue as the Brunei driving licence can be used anywhere in Malaysia.

He said that if any Bruneian drivers had been fined over this issue, they should come to the Police Headquarters in Miri.

"I, myself will cancel the fine. However, I have checked the record of traffic fines and no such cases have happened," he added.

Bruneian drivers, who are still not satisfied can, get a further explanation from Asp Choo himself by contacting the telephone number: 085-432533. -- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

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