KAJANG: The Transport Ministry will allow recreational vehicle (RV) services to be licensed and regulated for commercial use from Jan 1.
Minister Anthony Loke (pic) said the move is to support the growth of the RV-based tourism segment, which has shown positive development.
He said the new policy will also permit RVs to be used as self-drive tourist hire vehicles in Peninsular Malaysia, and as self-drive hire cars in Sabah, Sarawak and Labuan.
"Implementation will be limited to new vehicles, either completely knocked down (CKD) or completely built up (CBU) units, effective Jan 1, 2026,” he said after the groundbreaking ceremony for the new Road Transport Department (JPJ) office here on Tuesday (Sept 23).
He said privately-owned RVs registered before Dec 31 may be commercialised, provided they are not more than 15 years old and pass a technical inspection to be specified by JPJ.
Loke added that his ministry and the Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry (Motac) would also explore a "single window" system for RV licence applications to streamline the process.
"So any new RV intended for rental would only require a single permit from Motac to be used for tourism activities, as this falls beyond my ministry's jurisdiction," he added.
He emphasised that this licensing measure is crucial for regulating operations, ensuring safety, and protecting renters' interests through the enforcement of stipulated permits.
Commenting on the case of an illegal driver overcharging a foreign tourist by more than RM800, Loke said these individuals typically rent cars to run unauthorised transport services.
"Their modus operandi is simple. They use cars they don't own, so if the vehicle is seized or impounded, they are not affected.
"In fact, the daily profit from just one customer can reach hundreds of ringgit," he said.
Loke added that JPJ will step up enforcement against these touts at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA), with ongoing surveillance and operations to eradicate their activities.
"We will also review whether existing legal provisions are sufficient or need to be strengthened to send a clear message that this behaviour will not be tolerated," he stressed. – Bernama
