MalaysiaGIS.com

Source: New Straits Times

Singapore Civil Defense spokesman Abdul Razak said the new rule, which will come into effect from next year, also covers Singapore-registered lorries carrying chemicals and petroleum-based products.

An average of 40,000 tonnes of chemical substances from Malaysia are transported into Singapore overland yearly.

The GPS device, which costs about RM3,000 to install, will enable the authorities in Singapore to monitor the movement of the lorries and stop them from entering restricted areas in the city state.

Pan Malaysia Lorry Owners' Association (PMLOA) president Er Sui See said his members were aware of the new ruling and were ready to comply with it.

"We support this move in the light of growing fears that terrorists might hijack lorries carrying hazardous chemicals and crash them into designated spots to extract maximum loss of life and collateral damage," he said.

Er, however, said PMLOA had not received any official directive on the move from the Singapore authorities.

"We have, in fact, been encouraging our members involved in the transportation of dangerous chemicals to install GPS devices since last year," he said, adding that this was in view of the many incidents of lorries being hijacked on the roads.

Transport company Yinson Holdings Bhd is also prepared to adhere with the ruling.

"We are ready to ahead with the plan if there is a directive," said its managing director, Lim Han Weng.

Meanwhile, Singapore Civil Defense Force Public Affairs Department director Lt Col N.Subhas said it will be a magnetic and portable device that can be easily attached to vehicles such as petrol tankers conveying hazardous materials plying Singapore roads.

"For foreign vehicles, the device will only be attached when they enter Singapore side of the Checkpoint.

"The vehicle will carry the device when travelling along the prescribed routes within Singapore and it will be returned when leaving Singapore," he said.