Image Credit: Copilot
KUALA LUMPUR, May 20: Truckers aiming to avoid roadblocks by the Road Transport Department (JPJ) have been found to display special stickers known as “Tonto stickers” so that they can be singled out and alerted by their allies, who go around in groups to monitor the movements of enforcement officers.
Some lorry operators, particularly in the Klang Valley, are still using ‘tonto’ stickers to avoid enforcement teams from the JPJ, according to a report by Bernama.
In Malaysia, the term “Tonto” refers to hired lookout teams who shadow JPJ enforcement officers and relay their movements to lorry operators, helping them evade checks. The name is borrowed from the fictional sidekick “Tonto” in the Lone Ranger series, symbolising a watchful companion who alerts others to danger
JPJ senior enforcement director Datuk Muhammad Kifli Ma Hassan said the companies involved were believed to be paying individuals or tonto groups to monitor the movements of enforcement teams and relay the information to lorry drivers.
He said the groups would trail JPJ enforcement personnel as soon as an operation began and use communication devices to provide real-time location updates to drivers of lorries bearing the special stickers, allowing them to lie low until the operation ended.
“These lorries have also been found using back roads to avoid detection and enforcement action,” he told a press conference after the Special Operation on Commercial Vehicles here today.
Muhammad Kifli said JPJ viewed the activity seriously and would refer the matter to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) for further action, including the possibility of conducting joint operations.
“JPJ would like to issue a stern warning to lorry operators not to hire or engage tonto to protect the vehicles under their control,” he said.
On enforcement statistics, Muhammad Kifli said JPJ had taken action against more than 400,000 of the 2.58 million commercial vehicles nationwide for various offences 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 between January and April this year.
In addition to issuing summonses, JPJ also seized 753 lorries for breaching permit conditions and provisions under the Land Public Transport Act 2010, with Penang recording the highest number at 133 cases, followed by Selangor (125) and Pahang (101).
Muhammad Kifli said JPJ had also initiated forfeiture proceedings against 30 lorries between 2024 and 2026 under Section 80(1) of the Land Public Transport Act 2010 for carrying loads exceeding the permitted limit.
“We would like to stress to all lorry operators that any vehicle carrying loads exceeding 50 per cent above the permitted weight will be seized, and JPJ will seek a court order for forfeiture,” he said, adding that most offences involved those transporting quarry materials, as well as technical violations such as drivers not holding valid driving licences and Goods Driving Licences (GDLs).
Muhammad Kifli added that operators’ excuses about rushing to complete more trips or maximise profits were outdated and no longer acceptable.
WE