Move to legalise errant drivers

BENTONG: All car and motorcycle owners with expired road tax will be given a special reprieve with immediate effect under the first nationwide “whitening” exercise, said Transport Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai.

He said owners could renew their insurance without having to go through Puspakom inspection.

However the road tax expiry period of these vehicles must be below three years.

“Once their vehicles are insured, they can go to any JPJ (Road Transport Department) to renew the road tax.

“The premium rates offered by insurance companies under this exercise will be lower.

“This is applicable for three months only until the end of June,” he said after launching the ministry’s carnival in Dataran Bentong.

Liow urged vehicle owners to utilise the exercise.

He added that the exercise will be evaluated for its effectiveness.

“We expect this move to benefit the lower income groups, who are driving or riding with expired road tax, especially in rural areas.

“The ministry is aware of their hardship and took this into account by working together with insurance companies,” he said.

There were 29 million registered vehicles according to JPJ records but only 19 million vehicles had their road tax renewed every year.

On the National Transformation Programme Annual Report 2017, Liow said it showed the country was on the right track to becoming a high income nation.

“Our transformation agenda is hitting all the right notes with strong investor confidence, a robust economy and good growth projection.

Liow later attended the launch of the Kuantan Barisan election machinery, which was officiated by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

Najib reminded Barisan Nasional grassroots to put the coalition’s struggles first before their personal feelings, adding that Barisan members must understand the decisions he made was for the good of all.

Also present was Pahang Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Adnan Yaakob, who told the crowd to look at the bigger picture when it came to their demands.

“Umno wants Kuantan but we forgot that when the constituency was split into two, Umno already got Indera Mahkota while Kuantan was given to MCA. That was the understanding.

“Forgive me for what I am saying may not be popular but we have to look at it from a higher perspective,” he said.

Liow recently called for the Kuantan seat to be returned to MCA.