Transport minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook has announced that the government has extended MyEG Services’ contract with the road transport department (JPJ) for another three years. However, unlike the existing deal that was awarded back in 2020 that’s set to expire on 22 May 2023, this extension no longer gives the online portal exclusive rights to provide services related to the department.
Currently, MyEG is the only service provider available which offers the public with JPJ related online services such as road tax and driving licence renewals, as well as summons settlement. The ending of its exclusivity period later this month would finally allow other companies or e-government platforms to host these services, therefore opening up competition.
“We have given them (MyEG) an extension of three years, but we have made it very clear that it is not exclusive, meaning they are just one of the providers,” Loke said on Wednesday, 3 May during a media briefing. “If there are other e-government providers who want to provide services, we would consider.”
Loke added that the online platform will still be allowed to be a gateway for the governm
On a related note, it is also worth reminding that JPJ has now adopted a digital road tax and driving licence system in lieu of physical stickers and cards. However, only private Malaysian drivers qualify to use this for now, but the department is working on extending the digital system to foreign and commercial drivers eventually.
Meanwhile, MyEG isn’t the only company to be stripped of its exclusivity. The transport ministry announced back in late March that Puspakom would lose its stake as the sole provider of periodic motor vehicle inspection services starting from 1 September 2024 onwards. Similarly, the move is aimed at opening the way for other firms to offer the public with such facilities, therefore spurring competition and hopefully reduce the cost of living.
(Source: The Edge)
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