JOHOR BARU: Dozens of tipper lorries, believed to be carrying construction material into Singapore, caused massive traffic jams after the vehicles were left by the roadside.

This occurred when one of the drivers learnt about an operation mounted by the Road Transport Department (JPJ) at the Customs, Immigration and Quarantine Complex here.

The lorries, laden with sand and stones, were just left by the roadside along Jalan Skudai, Jalan Linkaran Dalam and Jalan Tun Razak from 8am onwards yesterday.

This caused traffic jams along most parts of Jalan Skudai, which stretched for kilometres.

A source said the drivers would usually abandon their vehicles for hours and wait out the JPJ operation.

He said the drivers were taking advantage of the law since overloaded lorries parked by the roadside would only be fined a maximum of RM300 (S$123) for obstruction.

"If they are caught while on the road, they risk being fined RM10,000 (S$4,131) or a year's imprisonment for overloading," the source said.

The lorries usually travelled into Singapore between 6am and 8am and between 4pm and 6pm daily, the source said.

When contacted, Johor JPJ director Rosli Ramly said the lorries could have been alerted by tontos at the CIQ checkpoint.

"We issued 37 summonses for traffic obstruction," he said.

Those with complaints about this matter can contact the Johor JPJ hotline at 07-354 3544 or Johor police hotline at 07-221 2999.