Wheel mishap: The cement carrier’s wheel detachment caused a fatal multi-vehicle accident near Ayer Keroh. — Picture courtesy of Puspakom
SHAH ALAM: Four officers from the Wangsa Maju branch of the Voluntary Vehicle Inspection Centre (Puspakom) have been summoned to provide statements in connection with an investigation into vehicles allegedly passed by the centre despite failing to meet the required standards.
Puspakom chief executive officer Mahmood Razak Bahman said all the officers were called up to give statements at the Road Transport Department (JPJ) in Putrajaya on Monday and yesterday.
He said two of them were responsible for passing the vehicles, while the other two were responsible for failing the inspections.
“I can confirm that two individuals provided statements to Putrajaya JPJ on Dec 30, 2024, and a third person, the regional manager of the Central Region at Puspakom, was only accompanying the two staff members.
“The other two individuals were called to provide statements at Putrajaya JPJ today (yesterday),” he said during a press conference at Shah Alam Puspakom yesterday, Bernama reported.
Mahmood Razak said Puspakom has not received any summons from JPJ during the ongoing Ops Mengejut, which is now in its third day.
He denied claims that seven vehicles were seized by JPJ within Puspakom premises, saying that only one vehicle was seized at the Wangsa Maju branch.
“A total of 104 vehicles seized in Perak were actually outside the Puspakom premises, and they have not yet been inspected,” he said, adding that 43 Puspakom branches were raided on Dec 30, followed by 42 branches the following day, and as at 2pm yesterday, two branches had been inspected, namely in Glenmarie and Seremban.
Commenting further, Mahmood Razak said he was satisfied with the statements given by the two staff members involved in the investigation.
He gave an assurance that any staffers found to be involved in any form of wrongdoing, including corruption, will face strict action.
“For the first offence committed, we will issue a verbal warning, followed by a written warning. If the mistake is severe, we will dismiss the individuals involved,” he said.
Mahmood Razak said Puspakom is ready to cooperate with JPJ in efforts to enhance road safety and preserve the integrity of the national transportation system.
He said they welcome the cooperation between JPJ and the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry in inspecting and monitoring both registered workshops and unlicensed workshops suspected of being involved in the rental of commercial vehicle components.
“Puspakom will comply with any new directives issued in line with efforts to address irresponsible behaviour by commercial vehicle owners,” he said.
On the trailer that triggered the Ayer Keroh incident, he said pictures from the accident scene, as well as the impounded truck, showed that the entire right wheel came off, with the right axle stub displaying damage, though no exact cause has been attributed to it yet.
“The inspection report from Puspakom has been forwarded to the Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (Miros),” he added.
According to Mahmood Razak, inspectors are still puzzled as to how the wheel detachment could have happened considering that the vehicle, a fully imported prime mover that was used as a bulk cement carrier at the time of the accident, is just a year old and was last inspected on March 28, 2024.
However, he said a crucial piece of exhibit – the detached right wheel from the prime mover – was not sent for Puspakom inspection.
“Typically, when accident reports are requested, all the vehicles and related bits or attachments are sent, but not in this case. So, we are not able to inspect this component,” he said.
A fully inflated trailer wheel will have a rim diameter of at least 20 inches and weigh close to 100kg, which is unsurprising as it is typically fitted to a steel rim.
Under wheel detachment conditions, the wheel remains pressurised if the tyre remains intact.
It is understood that all five vehicles involved in the accident were towed by Melaka traffic police for storage before the trailer was sent for Puspakom examination.
