G. Mathan, 30, from Kampung Ladang Transkrian pleaded not guilty to a charge of driving without a valid driving licence and under the influence of alcohol.
The offence under Section 43(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987 for reckless driving carries a maximum fine of RM10,000 and a maximum jail term of one year if convicted.
Magistrate Rashidah Baharom set RM8,000 bail and March 22 for handing in of documents and for the accused to appoint a lawyer.
Mathan appeared calm when he was brought to the magistrate's court in Jawi here in a police car this morning.
On Sunday, market-goers at the Taman Berjaya market were shocked to find their cars dented and damaged after Mathan drove his lorry into the cars which had blocked his path.
Mathan had fled the scene but his lorry was later discovered near a banana plantation not far away.
He surrendered to the police at the district's police headquarters in Jawi on Sunday night.
Earlier, Malaysians chimed in on the road rage incident, with some saying that they understood why Mathan did what he did as they too have experienced similar frustrations.
“The lorry driver deserves a Datukship, more than Shah Rukh Khan does,” Harivin Krishnan said on The Star Online’s Facebook page.
Mohd Faiz added: “This lorry driver is our true hero. If horn doesn’t cut it, ram the hell out. Teach these illegal parkers the hard way.”
“How can we go about hiring this driver? Services needed in Klang... Multiple locations!” said Jeremaiah Dawson Lazarus.
Raquel Golfarini said: “Many times I wished I had a lorry... sometimes it’s not about road rage, but about people who simply takes others for granted.”
“Good job lorry driver. I don’t blame him. It’s a lesson to all drivers who love to park as though the road belongs to their grandfather,” said Chandrasegaran Uthamaseelan.
While some seem to treat the reckless act quite lightly, others said that the lorry driver had overreacted.
“I don’t understand why the lorry driver drove his lorry in the crowded day market area. Even I rarely go over there as I understand the place is a crowded place,” said Lim Meng Wooi.
And then there were also those who found a middle ground (somewhat).
“As much as I find it somewhat good, I’m still against the lorry driver’s behaviour of intentionally damaging people’s cars... though I’d prefer using a tank to crush these cars,” Kenny Yeap Lin Chung said.
Zabri Abidin added “Mr Lorry Driver I am proud of you. But don’t do it again.”
