Punishing driving schools for former students' driving errors merely JPJ's opinion, says transport minister

The much-criticisied statement of the Road Transport Department (JPJ), suggesting to penalise driving institutes for traffic offences caused by their former students, is just the opinion of the department's director-general, clarified transport minister Wee Ka Siong.

In a statement, he said that "the transport ministry wishes to emphasise that the (statement) is only a personal opinion of the JPJ’s director-general and not a policy by the ministry itself."

Wee's statement also mentioned that any changes to policies or ideas to improve them will be studied first by the ministry with the involvement of relevant parties, and the ministry would like to avoid "baseless accusations to certain parties."

Also read: Transport Minister Wee Ka Siong: Our driving curriculum is irrelevant, needs updating

Meanwhile, Wee also said that the transport ministry and the agencies under its watch would continue various educational and enforcement programmes to raise public awareness on road safety and compliance to traffic rules.

This comes after vocal backlash from the public against the JPJ's original statement, including by academicians and driving school operators.

Also read: Don't blame the teacher, driving schools ask JPJ who passed these bad students?