Transport ministry to set up JPJ academies in Sabah, Sarawak, says Loke

MELAKA: The Ministry of Transport is planning to establish Road Transport Department (JPJ) academies in Sabah and Sarawak as a long-term plan to ensure that members and officials in both states receive sufficient training without having to travel to the peninsula.

Its minister, Anthony Loke, said that thus far there are 786 JPJ officers in Sabah and 739 in Sarawak and he sees the need to establish academies in both states.

"We see that there is a need and it is better to have an academy that can train members there, but this is still in the planning stage and has not yet received budget approval.

"However, we have included the application for the construction of the academy in the 12th Malaysia Plan, so we will wait for the decision,” he told the media after opening the department’s 78th anniversary celebration at the Melaka JPJ Academy here last week.

He said currently JPJ academies only operate in Peninsular Malaysia, namely the main campus in Melaka, the southern region in Johor, the eastern region in Kelantan and the northern region on Langkawi Island.