Loke: SPAD to be swapped for APAD

PUTRAJAYA: A new Land Public Transport Agency will be set up under the Transport Ministry to better manage the functions and development policies of the country’s land transport sector, says Anthony Loke Siew Fook.

The Transport Minister said APAD (Agensi Pengangkutan Awam Darat), which was agreed upon at yesterday’s Cabinet meeting, was the way forward following last month’s dissolution of the Land Public Transport Commission.

He said APAD, which will be led by the ministry’s director-general, would draw up plans to develop the land public transport sector, specifically MRT, LRT and the bus system.

“To avoid overlaps, the Road Transport Department (JPJ) will be authorised to conduct enforcement under the Land Public Transport Act 2010.

“SPAD’s existing functions on enforcement and over-the-counter services will be transferred to JPJ, so there will be no separate counters after the restructuring,” he said at a press conference yesterday.

Loke added that JPJ would issue licences and permits for land public transport operators, tour and cargo vehicles at its existing counters.

The organisational structure of APAD, he said, would be drawn up with the Public Service Department based on existing standards.

Four smaller committees have been set up, led by ministry secretary-general Datuk Seri Saripuddin Kasim, to monitor the SPAD restructuring plan.

Loke said the Commercial Vehicle Licensing Board in East Malaysia would be put under his ministry.

“This is to ensure better coordination, consistency and integration of policies, regulations, licensing and enforcement in the peninsula and Sabah and Sarawak,” he said.

Following the restructuring, Loke said the SPAD Act would be abolished while the Land Public Trans­port Act would see some amendments.

His ministry would also amend the Road Transport Act 1987 to provide more powers to the JPJ, he said.

“Until then, all business with SPAD will go on as usual.

“Many are still confused and think SPAD is dissolved, so there is no enforcement and they do not need to pay summonses,” he said.