PUTRAJAYA: More than ten companies have applied for vehicle inspection service licences as Puspakom’s three-decade monopoly ends, says Anthony Loke.
The Transport Minister added that he hopes the new operators can begin operations by the end of the year, and said that the numbers have not been finalised yet.
“There are about more than ten companies who have applied for the licence, but the actual number of companies that are given the licence will be announced later,” he said.
Speaking at a press conference after launching the Road Transport Department’s (JPJ) new office in Putrajaya on Thursday (Jan 2), Loke said the new operators will also need time to build new facilities.
He added that the move would not only end Puspakom’s monopoly but also make the market more competitive with the presence of new operators.
On integrity issues within Puspakom, he said the ministry is working with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to address these issues. Also present at the press conference was MACC chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki.
It was reported on Dec 30 that the Road Transport Department (RTD) is investigating Puspakom officers from the Wangsa Maju branch for allegedly approving unsafe vehicles.
The staff members were interviewed at RTD Putrajaya.
RTD senior enforcement director Muhammad Kifli Ma Hassan reportedly said the matter will be referred to the MACC if there are any elements of wrongdoing.
Loke said three officers have been called up, and a report is being prepared. He said more officers would be called if more cases arise.
“We will work with the MACC to identify integrity issues in Puspakom and we will not hesitate to take stringent action together with the MACC,” he added.
Loke said that the ministry wants to uncover not only the isolated cases but what is more important is whether there are syndicates offering illegal services.
“We know that there are talks of cartels and runners in the market that would see to it that even those who are not eligible are given approvals,” he added.
He said unannounced checks would be conducted at other Puspakom branches and vehicles.
Loke said there are loopholes in the law addressing the issue of companies renting out accessories such as tyres that could be used to temporarily pass Puspakom inspection.
“There is a law loophole where a person can pass the Puspakom inspection when they change their tyre. This is similar to the tinted glasses issue. They would remove the tinted glasses temporarily and would revert to it after they pass the inspection,” he said.
He said while the ministry has amended regulations for tinted glasses, it is now working with Domestic Trade and Cost of Living to determine the mechanism to identify whether the appropriate tyres are fitted to vehicles.
“There will be a new mechanism when we amend the regulations,” he said.
Meanwhile, Azam said the MACC will wait for the RTD to conclude its investigations.
“When the RTD concludes its investigations which I estimate will take two weeks, I want all the the technical reports to be handed over to MACC,” he said.
Azam then said that the anti-graft body will then determine if the matter could be investigated under the MACC Act or Penal Code.
