Malaysia's RTD to tighten crackdown on foreign drivers lacking valid licences
The Road Transport Department announced intensified actions against foreigners operating vehicles without proper driving documents, including penalties for owners who permit such use.
At a ceremony for the Special Registration Number series on Malaysia Day 2026, the Road Transport Department confirmed it will step up enforcement against foreign drivers lacking valid licences. Director-general Datuk Aedy Fadly Ramli instructed senior enforcement director Datuk Muhammad Kifli Ma Hassan to increase patrols and checks, emphasizing that vehicle owners who allow unlicensed foreigners to use their vehicles will also be penalised.
The department’s annual enforcement strategy features Operasi Warga Asing (Op PEWA), aimed specifically at foreign motorists. Although three-wheeled motorcycles are few, any such vehicle caught breaking the law will be seized. RTD officials noted they have identified several hotspot areas across states but declined to reveal their locations. No specific figures on past actions were disclosed.
Why it matters
Stricter enforcement could affect many foreign workers and tourists who drive without proper licences in Malaysia.
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