Govt scouting for new vendors for inspection of used vehicles

KUALA LUMPUR: The government is now in the process of procuring new vendors for inspection of used vehicles following Puspakom's concession having ended, the Dewan Rakyat was told today.
Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution said any company with expertise in the field was welcome to make a bid.
"The agreement between Puspakom and my ministry on this has ended, now we are in the interim period until December, the ministry is handling this, meaning to say it is open to all, not only Puspakom," he said when winding up debate on the Hire Purchase (Amendment) Bill 2018.
The bill aimed at further empowering protection in hire purchase contracts by making it mandatory for fixed fee payments to the relevant authority to declare roadworthiness of used vehicles and give the ministry the power to set the rates was passed by the Dewan Rakyat.
Saifuddin said the amendments gave the government more bargaining power when entering the negotiation phase with any company.
He said the government was committed to end monopolies including in the vehicle inspection services sector and in fact had set up a special cabinet committee for the purpose.
He said currently, each used vehicle for hire purchase had to undergo 22 checks at Puspakom, the only service provider appointed by the government for this now with the fee imposed costing RM60 of which 12.5% goes to the government.
Saifuddin also welcomed suggestions from Datuk Dr Noor Azmi Ghazali (Ind-Bagan Serai) and Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir (PH-Johor Baru) that the percentage to the government be increased and for penalties to be imposed on the vendor if the services to consumers were unsatisfactory.
Meanwhile, responding to complaints by several MPs that car repossessors were acting with impunity, Saifuddin reiterated that they were only allowed to operate from 9am to 9pm.
"They are issued an EPS licence so that the ministry can monitor their activities. They are required to show the licence, their identification card and the repossession order," he said, adding that any gangster-type behaviour on their part should be reported to the ministry. — Bernama