THE Road Transport Department (RTD) has told the public to beware of advertisements on social media offering potential customers driving licences without having to sign up for lessons and be tested.

RTD director-general Zailani Hashim said the department had detected such an advertisement on a social media account that uses the photo of a China doll as its profile picture.

“This syndicate makes a profit by deceiving the victims and disappears after they receive the money.

“The misleading advertisement tells the people that they can get a licence without attending a driving school. There is nothing of that sort,” he told a press conference after the New Year’s Eve integrated operation at the Gombak toll plaza early today.

Zailani added that the RTD will work with the Communications and Digital Ministry and the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission to track down the syndicate.

“The syndicate has realised that the authorities are monitoring them, so they often change their links every four to six months.

“We will find the individuals responsible for deceiving social media users with this tactic and hand them to the police for further action,” he said.

Meanwhile, Zailani said 3,481 summonses were issued for various traffic offences during the integrated operation, which was held simultaneously throughout the country from 9pm to midnight last night.

He added that a total of 12,234 vehicles were inspected in the operation, which focused on driving licences, road tax, insurance and cloned vehicles.

“We also confiscated 69 vehicles – 56 motorcycles, 12 cars and one other vehicle as of midnight last night,” he said, adding that more 200 enforcement officers from the police, Immigration Department, National Anti-Drugs Agency and Environment Department took part in the operation. – Bernama, January 1, 2023.