Liow showing car tinting film information on his smartphone at the launch of a vehicle tint film standardisation mechanism in Putrajaya on Monday.
PUTRAJAYA: There will be no more unregulated tint films when all window tinting on newly-registered vehicles will be required to adhere to the new MS2669 standard set by the Department of Standards Malaysia from Jan 1.
The new films will come with QR Code Security labels and enforcement officers need only scan the code using the compatible phone app to get its full specifications.
Transport Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai, who launched the Malaysian Vehicle Tint Film Standardisation Mechanism yesterday, said that having a standardised guideline would not only ease the work of enforcement officers, but also prevent consumers from buying unregulated films.
“Before, there was no standard for car tint film makers and each had their own interpretation of what tint was acceptable under the law.
“The MS2669 standard was spearheaded by the AAA (Auto Audio Accessories and Air-Condition Traders Association) and supported by the Transport Ministry and Miros (Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research), among others.
“With this mechanism, a lot of disputes over what tint is acceptable can be resolved,” said Liow.
It determines the standard of tint films, and ensures they comply with the MS2669 standard. The QR code feature, however, will only come with the new MS2669-certified tints which are expected to be available at AAA-registered outlets before January 2018. The feature will be available to all consumers free of charge.
“For current car users, as long as your car tint’s minimum permissible visible light transmission levels (VLT) comply with the rules, you do not need to change your tinting.
“However, cars registered after Jan 1, 2018, can only use tints that comply with the MS2669 standard,” he said, adding that car users can visit a Puspakom centre or a car tint dealer to check their tint level.
Liow said the permissible VLT levels are 70% for the front windscreen, 50% for front side windows and 30% for rear side windows and rear screen.
Standardising window tinting for cars is a win-win situation benefiting industry players, consumers and the Government, said the Auto Audio Accessories and Air Condition Traders Association of Malaysia (AAA).
“The AAA, which represents 90% of car accessory businesses in the country, came up with a mechanism on vehicle window tint film standardisation as an initiative to benefit not just the industry players but the consumers and Government too.
“We will develop standards that will ensure that tint films sold by AAA-registered businesses are those of high quality and adhere to a single standardised specification that will not cause disputes or confusion among traders, consumers or the authorities,” said AAA president Lim Bee Choo.
Miros director-general Prof Dr Wong Shaw Voon said consumers did not have proper guidance on what car tint was safe to use or legally allowed.
“Consumers would go to different shops and ask about UV (ultraviolet) filtering, and different shops may give different answers.
Definitely illegal. Many cars are running on the road with overly dark tinted windows.
“Now, with a standardised guideline and also a standardised method to test the films, consumers will know better,” he said.
Dr Wong said that the MS2669 standard did not only test or evaluate a tint film based on its solar filtering performances but its resistance to weathering and boiling problems.
“If a tint film develops bubbles or its colour degraded, it can be dangerous for the driver. The standard we develop here is to ensure that the films will last about five years,” he said.
Also at the launch yesterday were Road Transport Department (JPJ) director-general Datuk Seri Nadzri Siron and Road Safety Department director-general Datuk Rosli Isa.
