No walk-in inspections for now, says Puspakom

SHAH ALAM: Puspakom says it has suspended walk-in inspections and requires customers to use a 14-day advance inspection period permitted by the authorities.

"JPJ allows permits to be renewed up to 14 days prior to expiry, without shortening the validity period of the existing permit. If a permit expires on March 31, renewal can begin on March 18," said Puspakom CEO Mahmood Razak Bahman.

"If they fail on the 18th, they still have 13 days to be re-inspected. Renewing on the final day of permit validity can be problematic if the vehicle fails."

The temporary change in procedure is to improve operational efficiency, said Mahmood.

Puspakom said it is reviewing its operating hours and capacity to accommodate more vehicle owners subject to availability of vehicle examiners.

Alternatively, customers can use Puspakom's mobile inspection services at an extra charge.

Puspakom was a monopoly for 30 years until it wasn't with the appointment of three more vehicle inspection service companies earlier this month.

Puspakom had come under the spotlight following a Road Transport Department (JPJ) probe against it in the wake of a series of road accidents and fatalities involving heavy vehicles.

Last December, Puspakom said it was co-operating with JPJ to root out any malpractices in the organisation.

At the macro level, stakeholders in the transport industry said bad drivers, poor maintenance and corruption are some of the reasons why heavy vehicles are increasingly getting involved in accidents.