File pic of Puspakom workers inspecting a bus.
SHAH ALAM: Companies appointed for motor vehicle inspection services are not allowed to open inspection centres only in profitable areas, says Anthony Loke.
The Transport Minister said the companies had been briefed of this before they were given their Motor Vehicle Inspection Service (PPKM) appointment offer letters.
“We made it clear to these companies that they cannot set up their centres in heavily trafficked and highly profitable areas only.
“They were told that if they wanted to open one centre in a populated area like Selangor, they must also open another in a more rural area outside of towns in either Pahang or Johor.
“This would ensure that substantial profits earned from those populated areas would be used to subsidise their centres in rural areas,” he told reporters after the groundbreaking ceremony for a new private logistics hub today.
Loke also dismissed concerns that the three companies awarded the appointment offer letters did not have the proper qualifications for the job.
He pointed out that no other company in Malaysia could have had a car inspection qualification other than Computerised Vehicle Inspection Centre (Puspakom) due to its three-decade-long monopoly.
“How can there be other companies in Malaysia with experience in vehicle inspections if it has been monopolised by Puspakom for so long?
“No one was asking this same question when Puspakom was first given the concession so it doesn't make sense to ask it now,” he said
Loke added that as long as the company applying for a licence to provide vehicle inspection services was a registered one, it was not illegal.
“There is no contract, the government is not paying anything for these companies to build their facilities, it is all coming from their private investments,” he said.
On Feb 7, Loke announced that three companies had received the letters of appointment which are Wawasan Bintang Sdn Bhd, Pakatan Petroleum Sdn Bhd and Beriman Gold Sdn Bhd.
The companies have been given two years to complete infrastructure requirements and obtain the relevant authority approvals or have their appointments revoked.
Upon meeting all requirements, Loke said the companies would be granted a 10-year licence, which would have to be renewed annually
