KUALA LUMPUR: Transport Minister Anthony Loke has revealed that several industry groups had approached the government seeking to negotiate after being caught for overloading their lorries.

Loke, however, said he had flatly rejected their requests, stressing that the Transport Ministry would not compromise on road safety or dilute enforcement efforts.

“I am quite disappointed with the actions of some industry players. They know (they’re in the wrong) all this while, yet they expect the government to negotiate with them.

“To me, this challenges the authority of the government. They have committed an offence, and they requested to negotiate with me. I told them, forget about it.

“Enforcement will continue, and they should comply rather than continue risking public safety,” he told the Dewan Rakyat today.

He was responding to Bangi MP Syahredzan Johan, who had cited statements from the Master Builders Association Malaysia claiming that the government’s crackdown on overloaded lorries had raised transport costs and could delay construction projects.