KUCHING: Kota Sentosa assemblyman Wilfred Yap Yau Sin supports stricter enforcement against overloaded commercial vehicles, saying the measure is crucial for public safety and the protection of Sarawak’s road infrastructure.
Yap said the enforcement drive, part of a nationwide initiative led by Transport Minister Anthony Loke, is not a sudden policy change but a necessary action against long-standing illegal overloading.
“The practice has created serious safety risks and caused extensive damage to roads, costing taxpayers millions in repeated repairs.
“Overloading is illegal and dangerous. It has burdened taxpayers for years, and stricter enforcement is the right policy.
“No political narrative should excuse or justify years of non-compliance,” he said in a statement.
He also criticised Democractic Action Party (DAP) Sarawak chairman Chong Chieng Jen for calling on the government to review contract prices in light of enforcement.
Yap noted that rising transport costs are simply a result of operators finally complying with the law, not a flaw in government policy.
Yap questioned why Chong only proposed contract price adjustments for government projects and not for the private sector, pointing out that taxpayers should not shoulder costs caused by years of illegal practices.
“Genuine hardship cases would be reviewed responsibly through proper channels, with supporting evidence and verification,” he said.
Highlighting Sarawak’s disproportionate experience with road damage caused by overloaded vehicles, Yap said enforcement is about protecting lives and public infrastructure, not a political issue.
“I fully support strict enforcement and the contractors who comply with the law,” he said.
Yap reaffirmed his commitment to fairness, public safety, and responsible use of government funds, stressing that overloading is both illegal and harmful.
