PUTRAJAYA: Some 14,000 “lesen terbang” holders have a month to own up before the Transport Ministry begins a crackdown.

Minister Anthony Loke said the directive followed the uncovering of a syndicate last week involving Road Transport Department (RTD) personnel.

“Lesen terbang” refers to a licence obtained without a person taking a practical driving test.

The syndicate is said to have been operating for two years before the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission made a series of arrests last week.

RTD staff had, apparently for a fee of between RM2,000 and RM3,500, helped people obtain driving licences by “converting” their foreign driving licences – which did not exist.

Loke said those who surrendered such licences would not be prosecuted but be used as witnesses against the JPJ officers involved.

“Once the month-long grace period is over, we will find those who have not surrendered their licences and act against them.

“Do not think you can escape because we have all the data in the system to trace you. I advise the motorists concerned to cooperate,” he told the media here yesterday.

Loke said while most of the offenders were Malaysians, some who “bought” their driving licences were foreigners, including Chinese nationals based here.

The MACC arrested 12 JPJ personnel for corruption and power abuse. They included a deputy director and assistant enforcement officers in JPJ offices in Perlis, Perak, Negri Sembilan, Sabah and Sarawak.

Loke said the ministry viewed the matter with concern as “lives are at stake”.

He added that offers to help people obtain driving licences “without leaving home” were widespread on social media, adding that his ministry was working with the Malaysian Communication and Multimedia Commission on this.

Loke said he would also engage with the foreign missions concerned to advise their citizens not to be duped by such offers.

So far this year, he said 3,189 Chinese nationals had applied to convert their driving licences to a Malaysian licence.