The Ministry of Transport (MOT) is currently developing an online system that would allow registrations of motor vehicles to be cancelled through an application or other digital methods. This was revealed by its deputy minister, Datuk Hasbi Habibollah, during Dewan Rakyat earlier today, with the aim of allowing individuals to easily cancel and dispose of old or damaged vehicles without having to be present at the Road Transport Department (JPJ) counters.
Hasbi was replying to a question by PH Hulu Langat representative Mohd Sany Hamzan regarding the efforts taken by the government to dispose of broken and end-of-life vehicles (ELVs) while ensuring environmental sustainability. Touching on the latter subject, he said MOT (through JPJ) is ready to cooperate with relevant government agencies to study the long-term direction to deal with environmental pollution related to abandoned vehicles.
“This includes studying the concept of disposal of old vehicles,” he added. “The implementation of this disposal system can contribute to increasing the level of road safety and reducing pollution from old vehicles, as well as boosting demand for vehicles that will contribute to the sustainability of the country’s automotive sector.”
Until then, removal of old or damaged vehicles will be handled by solid waste disposal companies or authorised automotive treatment facilities recognised under the rules set by the relevant agency. Hasbi adds that the introduction of the online system will hopefully solve the issue of dumping broken and old vehicles in the country.
When asked by PN Merbok representative Nazri Abu Hassan whether the move will affect vehicles which are more than 10 years old, the deputy minister said the measure would only involve vehicles that are no longer roadworthy. “Only the owners know whether their vehicle is safe to drive or not because they are the ones driving them,” he added.
Prior to this, concerns regarding the handling of dilapidated vehicles prompted the previous government to study a suitable approach for implementing an ELV management policy, which Malaysia currently lacks. Based on May 2022 data from MOT, Malaysia has a total of 33 million registered vehicles, with 19 million of which were at least a decade old. Former Science, Technology and Innovation minister Dr Adham Baba had originally aimed to have the new policy implemented by 2025, and is uncertain at this time whether the current government is continuing this effort.
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