Transport groups look forward to end of Puspakom monopoly

 

Vehicle inspection services will be opened to all qualified parties once Puspakom’s concession ends in August next year. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA: The government’s decision to scrap Puspakom’s monopoly on vehicle inspection has received positive reactions from transport groups who say consumers will have more choices.

Federation of School Bus Associations Malaysia president Amali Munif Rahmat said the move would ensure transparency and encourage competition.

“Consumers will benefit as they will be able to pick the best service to meet their needs, but we hope the prices would be fixed by the government with an assurance of quality service. We also would end the ‘kawtim’ and hanky-panky culture,” he told FMT.

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Transport academic Farhan Sadullah called for proper regulation on those who sign up to be vehicle inspectors.

“As long as competition brings better value, in the end, it brings the best for consumers,” he said.

Farhan suggested that the decision to end Puspakom’s monopoly had something to do with bringing about the end-of-life policy to scrap obsolete vehicles. “If that is the case, we would need more inspection centres for annual inspections,” he said.

Gabungan Teksi SeMalaysia president Kamarudin Mohd Hussain said the end of the monopoly means taxi drivers no longer have to put up with Puspakom’s poor service, which he described as “terrible”. The association represents the interests of 45,000 drivers.

“For decades, we have had to put up with unfriendly staff, dishonest testers and slow service,” he said. “On top of that, the environment in Puspakom is hot, there are no basic facilities despite us paying for their service. This move by the ministry will benefit vehicle owners.”

Yesterday, transport minister Loke Siew Fook said the Cabinet had decided that vehicle inspection services will be opened to all qualified parties once Puspakom’s concession ends on Aug 31, 2024. Loke said the decision was to promote a competitive vehicle inspection industry.

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Puspakom is Malaysia’s first and only comprehensive national vehicle inspection company, appointed in 1994 by the government to undertake all mandatory inspections for both commercial and private vehicles. - FMT