Last Friday, the transport ministry (MoT) announced the appointment of three new motor vehicle inspection services (PPKM) besides Puspakom. Transport minister Anthony Loke said that these appointments were made in line with the results of a cabinet meeting on March 17, 2023, in which it was agreed that vehicle inspections, mandated as part of the Road Transport Act 1987 (Act 333), would be opened up to other eligible companies.
The three companies approved by the MoT and the road transport department (JPJ) are Wawasan Bintang in Port Klang, Gua Musang in Kelantan and Mersing in Johor; Pakatan Petroleum in Rawang and Temerloh in Pahang; and Beriman Gold in Kuching and Serian in Sarawak. According to the ministry, the approvals were given after conducting a “strict” evaluation process.
Following the appointments, a PAS member has asked the transport ministry to explain the process on how these three companies were chosen. In a post on Facebook, Nurul Islam Mohammed Yusoff said that while he supported the government’s move to break Puspakom’s monopoly in the segment, he questioned the backgrounds of the companies appointed.
He asked how the ministry could appoint new companies without relevant experience to carry out vehicle inspections, given that it involves the lives and safety of road users. He said that based on SSM records, Pakatan Petroleum and Beriman Gold were involved in businesses that were not related to the automotive sector.
He said that his searches revealed that Pakatan Petroleum was involved in “trading petroleum, gas, and related business,” while Beriman Gold has a nature of business outside the automotive domain, namely in construction, telecommunications and IT.
While Wawasan Bintang listed its business as being that of providing services in inspection of motor vehicles, Nurul Islam said that the company is only eight months old and as such, has no proven track record. He also asked how a company that has not yet filed a financial statement and audit report prove that it has solid financial values.
As Loke pointed out during the announcement, the approved firms were selected based on several main criteria, including being locally owned, having a strong financial standing and having a minimum paid-up capital of RM10 million. They were also required to show that they had high potential, readiness and commitment to ensure that the conditional approval granted would be fully utilised.
The three companies that received the PPKM approval offer have 24 months to complete their infrastructure requirements, including the development of premises, the procurement of inspection equipment and obtaining approval from the relevant authorities.
The ministry said it will observe the process throughout to ensure all conditions and operating standards are met and will only grant an operating licence once all requirements are met and the company is ready to commence operations.
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