– Bernama
PUTRAJAYA: Several Road Transport Department (JPJ) branches have been directed to take down a notice which says that physical road tax for private vehicles are no longer being issued, says Anthony Loke.
The Transport Minister said the directive was issued by JPJ director-general Rospiagos Taha to branches which said physical road tax would not be given from Aug 1 and customers should renew their road tax online using the MyJPJ application.
"The (road tax) sticker is still being issued. Several branches ran out of stock and put up a notice that physical road tax were not available but this is not a policy decision.
"We took quick action after finding out branches had run out of stock and ordered new stocks," he told a press conference here on Wednesday (Aug 2).
Loke said the Transport Ministry had yet to set a cut-off date for the full transition to digital road tax and vehicle owners still have a choice and can continue using the physical sticker.
"But there will come a time when we will transform to fully digital. No decision has been made yet. It would take six months to one year before going fully digital," he added.
Loke said according to JPJ, only 30% of vehicle owners have opted for digital road tax.
He had previously announced that private vehicle owners no longer need to display the road tax beginning Feb 10, 2023 and can opt for the digital version.
He said the transition to digital can reduce congestion at JPJ offices and counters by up to 80% and save RM96mil a year in terms of sticker and card costs.
It is said that an average of 1.5 million vehicles need to renew their road tax every month.
Asked on the planned closure of several routes in Kuala Lumpur beginning Saturday (Aug 5), Loke said he had given his views to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim that this decision should be reviewed as it could cause more congestion in the affected areas.
Although the matter is under the jurisdiction of Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) and not his ministry, Loke felt that there should be proper planning and engagement with the public before road closures are decided.
DBKL has announced that Jalan Sungai Besi towards Sungai Besi or Petaling Jaya (in front of Fraser Business Park) and the Loke Yew Roundabout will be closed for a year until Aug 4, 2024 to enable renovation works and construction of a bridge at the roundabout.
Commenting on the incident of a woman being molested on the Maluri LRT station platform in Kuala Lumpur last Friday (July 28), Loke said the male suspect had been arrested by police after receiving treatment at the Kuala Lumpur Hospital.
He said Prasarana Malaysia Bhd had been directed to step up security at LRT stations.
According to media reports, the woman was suddenly grabbed by a stranger before the public came to her aid. – Bernama
