A 13-year-old boy was detained by the Road Transport Department (JPJ) in Kedah after he was caught driving a car despite being underage.
According to a Facebook post by JPJ Kedah on March 6, the incident occurred during an enforcement operation carried out by JPJ Sungai Petani branch officers.
Stopped during enforcement operation
The teenager was stopped at around 12.45pm on March 5 along Jalan Sungai Seluang in Kulim.
Upon inspection, officers discovered that the boy was driving without a valid driving licence, as he had not yet reached the legal age to obtain one.
The case falls under Section 39(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987.
Said he was bringing his sick father
According to JPJ, the teenager claimed he was driving because he wanted to bring his sick father somewhere.
However, the department stressed that such reasons do not exempt individuals from traffic laws, especially when it involves underage driving.
Possible action against vehicle owner
JPJ also stated that legal action can be taken not only against the driver, but also against any party who allows an underage individual to operate a vehicle.
Public reminded to follow road laws
The department reminded the public to always comply with road traffic laws and to never allow individuals without a valid licence to drive, as it poses safety risks to other road users.
