Puspakom won't be sole provider of vehicle inspection services anymore, says Loke

Pusat Pemeriksaan Kenderaan Berkomputer (Puspakom) will no longer be the sole provider of periodic motor vehicle inspection services from Sept 1, 2024 onwards, Transport Minister Anthony Loke said today.

He said the Cabinet at its meeting on March 17 had decided that other qualified companies would also be allowed to provide such services on behalf of the Road Transport Department (JPJ).

He said the process of inviting private companies to offer this service was expected to begin in the first quarter of 2024, at the latest.

"This decision means Puspakom will no longer be the sole provider of periodic motor vehicle inspection services on behalf of JPJ beginning Sept 1, 2024," he told a press conference in Putrajaya.

He said the decision was in line with the government’s desire to create a competitive service environment and to make it easier for people to deal with such tasks.

This followed public complaints about a lack of efficiency as people had to spend hours waiting for their vehicles to be inspected, as well as the fact that there are a limited number of Puspakom branches in certain places.

Loke said the transport ministry and JPJ would develop the qualifying conditions, operational regulations, and scope of service and guidelines, including on inspection locations, before opening up the service to other companies.

Companies interested in providing this service must fulfil the same conditions imposed on Puspakom, including hiring only qualified workers, he said.

They must also provide and use computerised inspection equipment regulated and approved by JPJ, provide services which fully meet the scope, standards and procedures set for vehicle inspection, and charge inspection fees according to the specified rates.

"Interested private companies are not allowed to offer repair or modification services for vehicles or sell spare parts," he said.

Loke also said that Puspakom’s concession agreement would be extended by 15 years with improved terms once it expires on Aug 31, 2024.