KUALA LUMPUR, February 18 – Transport Minister Anthony Loke has emphasized that using ‘runners’ for vehicle inspections at PUSPAKOM is unnecessary and only adds to the burden of bus and lorry operators.
He also revealed allegations that some ‘runners’ were colluding with PUSPAKOM officers to expedite the vehicle inspection process, raising integrity concerns within the system.
“We have conducted monitoring operations, including undercover investigations by JPJ officers at PUSPAKOM. If any integrity issues are found, we will not compromise,” he asserted during a parliamentary session today.
According to him, the ministry is committed to ensuring transparency in vehicle inspections and has implemented strict monitoring measures to curb any form of misconduct.
Anthony Loke also urged relevant parties, including Pusat Borneo, to advise bus and lorry operators against relying on ‘runners’.
“They only take money from operators, whereas the inspection process can be done independently,” he stated.
Previously, vehicle operators complained that the PUSPAKOM inspection process was too complicated, forcing them to use intermediaries. However, some claimed that these ‘runners’ made the situation worse and colluded with certain officers.
Additionally, he reminded vehicle operators to comply honestly with inspection requirements.
“For example, some operators install good tires only during the inspection but later switch them back to worn-out ones. This practice must stop,” he said.
He further noted that addressing this issue also requires action against tire shops involved. However, since tire shops fall under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (KPDN) rather than JPJ, resolving this issue requires coordination between multiple agencies.
To improve the inspection system, the government is also considering opening up the vehicle inspection market to more industry players to reduce monopoly and enhance inspection quality.
“Road safety is our top priority. We want to ensure that all vehicles are in safe condition and fit for use on the road,” he concluded.