Having a closer look: A staff checking the tyre condition of a lorry at the Puspakom Alam Megah. — IZZRAFIQ ALIAS/The Star
SHAH ALAM: Unscrupulous runners are charging a whopping RM750 for early vehicle inspection slots at Puspakom when the actual cost is only RM3.50.
Runners, or intermediaries, are making fat profits by selling these appointment slots, the vehicle inspection centre's chief executive officer Mahmood Razak Bahman said.
He said the tactics used by these intermediaries involve using the same vehicle chassis number but with different registration numbers (licence plates) to secure multiple appointment slots.
Each appointment slot at Puspakom is priced at RM3.50, but through this method, intermediaries can sell the slot for as much as RM750.
"Investigations are ongoing with the assistance of the Road Transport Department (JPJ).
"We are looking into who is involved and why they are doing this. We will call in these intermediaries,” he said during a briefing following a visit by the JPJ director-general Datuk Aedy Fadly Ramli, to the Shah Alam Puspakom centre yesterday, reported Bernama.
Previously, Transport Minister Anthony Loke announced that Puspakom would no longer allow multiple bookings for the same registration number to prevent misuse by intermediaries who sell the inspection slots to others for excessive profits.
Speaking at a press conference after the visit, Aedy Fadly said the department is collaborating with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to explore actions that can be taken against those involved.
"We are trying to locate these runners. We have exhausted all communication channels.
"They are uncontactable. We are looking for alternative methods,” he said.
On another matter, he said the new self-declaration initiative at Puspakom, began yesterday.
The initiative, announced on March 11, involves five items not related to safety concerns for commercial vehicles.
The items are vehicle body lettering, speed signs, first aid kits, registration numbers and the condition of passenger seats for public service vehicles, he said.
The initiative, Aedy Fadly added, will shorten inspection times and reduce failures due to non-critical issues.
He said vehicles that previously failed inspection for the five items can undergo reinspection online.
"This flexibility is only allowed for vehicles that fail inspection for these five items, without affecting any other inspection criteria and applies solely to inspection procedures at Puspakom.
"However, these items remain subject to enforcement regulations under JPJ and the Royal Malaysia Police. The authorities will take action if the vehicles lack any of these five items, including fines of up to RM300 per item," he said.
Aedy Fadly said vehicle owners can download the guidebook on the criteria of the self-declaration and specifications of the five items from the Puspakom website.
According to him, the five items will be among the items that JPJ will inspect during the nationwide Hari Raya Aidilfitri 2025 special operation from March 24 to April 8.
Meanwhile, Mahmood said an estimated 7,500 commercial vehicle owners are expected to complete the self-declaration form via the Puspakom website.
This, he said, could reduce inspection times by almost 10 minutes, addressing one of the leading causes of congestion at the vehicle inspection centres.
