KUALA LUMPUR: Operations at Puspakom's Wangsa Maju branch here, scheduled to end this June, will be extended to June 30 next year, says Transport Minister Anthony Loke.
He said the decision was made as the new inspection centre in Bukit Beruntung has yet to be completed.
He added that the plan to redevelop the Road Transport Department (JPJ) premises here has also yet to get underway.
“Our plan with the Kuala Lumpur JPJ was to redevelop this branch site. However, the planning is still (ongoing).
“Meanwhile, the Puspakom branch in Bukit Beruntung has yet to be completed.
“Therefore, we are pushing the plan to move the branch (by a year),” he told reporters here on Tuesday (March 11).
Previously, it was reported that the branch, one of the busiest centres, would be closed by June and its operations moved to Bukit Beruntung.
Loke said the earlier decision was made because the facility had caused heavy traffic jams in the area.
“This centre is located near schools, and I received complaints from teachers and parents that the traffic jams here (are) severe owing to the presence of heavy vehicles waiting for their turn (at inspection),” he said.
The Bukit Beruntung branch is still under construction and expected to open by December next year.
“By next year, there probably will also be other new inspection centres, so the operations here (Wangsa Maju) can be reduced,” Loke added.
Three new companies have been appointed to provide inspection centres.
The selected companies have up to two years to set up inspection centres and obtain necessary approvals.
