Road Traffic Act · 2026 Revised Edition · Part · Public Service Vehicles and Franchises
55. District Licensing Authorities
Official textFrom Attorney General's Chambers, unchanged
The Minister may, with the approval of His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan, by order signified in the Gazette, establish district
Licensing Authorities for specified areas, and may give such directions as to the composition and proceedings of such district Licensing Authorities as he may see fit, and in particular may apply any of the provisions of sections 49, 50, 51, 52 and 53 to such district Licensing Authorities.
The Minister may, with the approval of His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan, by order signified in the Gazette, empower such district Licensing Authorities to carry out, under the general directions of the
Licensing Authority, any such functions of the Licensing Authority under this Act as he may specify, including powers to hear and determine within specified areas applications for franchises and for public service vehicle licences, or for such class or classes of licences as he may specify, and to grant, refuse, revoke, suspend or attach conditions to such licences, and to exercise any of the powers of the Licensing Authority under sections 59, 68
Licensing Authority
“Licensing Authority” means the Motor Transport Licensing Authority established under section 49;
and 69.
In any area for which a district Licensing Authority has been established, all applications for franchises or for public service vehicle licences, or for such class or classes of licences as the district Licensing
public service vehicle
“public service vehicle” means a motor vehicle ordinarily used, whether in part or in whole, for the purpose of conveying passengers or goods or both, for hire or reward, whether under contract to a person plying for hire or generally, and, in the case of a tractor, includes any trailer attached to it;
Authority may be empowered to grant, and all objections to such applications, shall be made to the district Licensing Authority and all
Road Traffic references in sections 54, 63, 65, 66 and 67 to the Licensing Authority are deemed to apply to such district Licensing Authority.
road
“road” means any highway and any other road to which the public has access, and includes bridges over which a road passes;
Notwithstanding anything in this section, the powers of the
Licensing Authority in any area specified under subsection (1) shall not be affected by any order under subsection (1) or (2) and in particular where the operation of any franchise or any public service vehicle licence extends or will, if any application therefor is granted, extend outside any one specified area, no district Licensing Authority shall deal with any application therefor or any matter affecting such franchise or public service vehicle licence except under and in accordance with the authority of the Licensing
franchise
“franchise” includes — (a) the grant either of an exclusive right to maintain a public service of road transport within a regulated area or part thereof, or the right to operate, within a regulated area or part thereof, a public service of road transport by a vehicle or vehicles for which a public service vehicle licence is required which is not available to all persons holding licences of the same class: Provided that a right granted is deemed to be a franchise for the purpose of this part of this definition notwithstanding that it does not exclude the Government or persons to whom an exemption has been granted and notwithstanding that it may cease to be exclusive by virtue of the exercise by the Licensing Authority of the powers conferred by this Act or by any franchise issued hereunder; and (b) whether or not paragraph (a) applies, the grant of the right under section 64 to operate within a regulated area or part thereof a stage carriage of any class or description of public service vehicle to which section 64 from time to time applies;
Authority.
Terms defined in s 2
franchise
Defined · s 2“franchise” includes — (a) the grant either of an exclusive right to maintain a public service of road transport within a regulated area or part thereof, or the right to operate, within a regulated area or part thereof, a public service of road transport by a vehicle or vehicles for which a public service vehicle licence is required which is not available to all persons holding licences of the same class: Provided that a right granted is deemed to be a franchise for the purpose of this part of this definition notwithstanding that it does not exclude the Government or persons to whom an exemption has been granted and notwithstanding that it may cease to be exclusive by virtue of the exercise by the Licensing Authority of the powers conferred by this Act or by any franchise issued hereunder; and (b) whether or not paragraph (a) applies, the grant of the right under section 64 to operate within a regulated area or part thereof a stage carriage of any class or description of public service vehicle to which section 64 from time to time applies;
Licensing Authority
Defined · s 2“Licensing Authority” means the Motor Transport Licensing Authority established under section 49;
public service vehicle
Defined · s 2“public service vehicle” means a motor vehicle ordinarily used, whether in part or in whole, for the purpose of conveying passengers or goods or both, for hire or reward, whether under contract to a person plying for hire or generally, and, in the case of a tractor, includes any trailer attached to it;
road
Defined · s 2“road” means any highway and any other road to which the public has access, and includes bridges over which a road passes;
traffic
Defined · s 2“traffic” includes vehicles of every description, pedestrians, processions, and bodies of troops and all animals being ridden, driven or led;
Part
Certificates of Fitness
Part
Traffic on Roads
Part
Powers of Police
Part