Bruneians do not need international driving licence in Miri or Kota Kinabalu

Awang Haji Khalid bin Haji Mustafa, Director of Land Transport Department and Awang Haji Moham-mad Syafien Yandol Abdullah, Secretary of the Motor Transport Licensing Authority. Photo: James Kon/Borneo Bulletin

BRUNEI DARUSSALAM, Nov 12: The recent message on social media, including WhatsApp and Facebook, claiming that Bruneians who travel to Miri, Limbang or Kota Kinabalu need to apply for an international driving licence is untrue. The claim was dismissed by the Land Transport Department yesterday during a press conference

Any Bruneian drivers who have proof of receiving fines for not having an international driving licence while driving in the neighbouring countries can make a report to the Land Transport Department or the Royal Brunei Police Force.

Awang Haji Khalid bin Haji Mustafa, the Director of Land Transport Department in a press conference yesterday said, “The Land Transport Department would like to inform the public that the rumour spread through WhatsApp and Facebook on drivers from Brunei receiving compound fines in neighbouring countries for using Brunei driving licence and not international driving permits is untrue.

“The Department of Land Transport and the Royal Brunei Police Force have contacted their counterparts in Malaysia – Royal Malaysian Police Force and Malaysian Road Transport Department – on the matter. The Royal Malaysian Police Force has not recorded any case of offences relating to any driver from Brunei who was levied a fine for not having an international driving permit and driving with a Bruneian licence.”

Under the 1985 Agreement on the Recognition of Domestic Driving Licence, he said, “Asean (member) countries, namely, Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand have agreed to recognise the driving licence of each Asean (member) country. The driving licence issued by each Asean (member) country can be used in other Asean (member) countries as long as the licence has not expired”.

He hoped that the public will not forward rumours on social media but instead check with the Land Transport Department on the authenticity of the messages.

With the holiday season coming soon and to avoid traffic fines in foreign countries, he advised the public to bring along all their valid transport documents, ensure that their vehicle is in a good condition and comply with road regulations of the countries they plan to visit.

Awang Haji Mohammad Syafien Yandol Abdullah, the Secretary of the Motor Transport Licensing Authority, urged bus operators to bring along all their valid transport documents, including licence, make sure that the bus is in a good condition and have valid travel documents to enter the neighbouring countries.

source: James Kon, Borneo Bulletin