Foreigners target vulnerable Kelantan women to register vehicles, RTD warns

KOTA BARU: Over one thousand single mothers, elderly women, and widows in Kelantan have had their identities exploited by foreigners to register vehicles since 2025, the Road Transport Department (RTD) has reported. Senior enforcement director Datuk Muhammad Kifli Ma Hassan explained the tactic involved foreigners making promises of marriage or offering business opportunities to vulnerable women.

In return, they demanded that the woman's name be registered on the vehicle before it could be used on public roads. This presented a serious concern as it left the women at risk of legal repercussions if the vehicles were involved in accidents or criminal activities. According to Kifli, this new tactic was particularly prevalent in Kelantan, where more than one thousand cases had been detected since 2025.

He warned that some older vehicles had also been discovered to have been used in criminal activities, including human smuggling. The RTD has taken a tougher stance on vehicle owners who allow their identities to be used for foreigners' vehicles, as they could be held accountable if the vehicles were involved in accidents or criminal activities.

The department has also noted an increase in foreigners, including Rohingya, using Malaysian names to purchase and register vehicles. Kifli emphasized the need for stricter enforcement and suggested that foreigners who repeatedly commit offenses could face stronger legal action, including imprisonment. He advised Kelantan women, particularly those aged 60 to 70, to be cautious of foreigners in their thirties who approached them with promises of marriage.

Women should think twice before allowing their names or identities to be used for vehicle registration, as it could lead to serious harm if the vehicles were later used for criminal activities.