
Carsome, Carro among 4 firms appointed to conduct private vehicle checks
Published on: Wed, Jul 16, 2025
By: Alysha Edward, FMT Text Size: The new appointments are part of the government's shift from a single-concession model to a multi-licence system, aimed at fostering healthy competition and better services. (Bernama pic) PUTRAJAYA: Four companies – Carsome Academy, Carro Technology, Wawasan Bintang, and Beriman Gold – have been appointed to run motor vehicle inspection centres for ownership transfers involving private vehicles, in a move aimed at breaking Puspakom's monopoly. Transport minister Loke Siew Fook said the appointments were part of a broader effort to ease congestion at existing inspection centres and improve accessibility for motorists.
Advertisement 'These new companies are only allowed to conduct MV15 inspections for private vehicle ownership transfers, not commercial vehicle inspections or routine checks. 'The process is relatively straightforward and does not require heavy infrastructure,' he said in a press conference here today. The appointed centres can operate nationwide, but are expected to begin in high-density areas such as the Klang Valley and major state capitals. Unlike traditional inspection hubs, the new premises will likely operate out of commercial shoplots, especially near used car dealers, to streamline the process. Loke said there were about 15 million active private vehicles in Malaysia, with ownership transfers taking place daily. 'Opening the market will provide alternatives and improve convenience. Currently, sellers and buyers have only one option – Puspakom,' he said. As for motorcycles, of which there are about nine million, Loke said inspections for ownership transfers were not yet mandatory although the ministry was assessing the possibility that they might be in the future, to curb the sale of stolen bikes. The new appointments are part of the government's shift from a single-concession model to a multi-licence system, aimed at fostering healthy competition and better services. The four companies were selected from an initial list of seven, with the rest declining the offer. When asked if other firms could apply, Loke said the door remained open. 'As long as they meet the guidelines and pass the road transport department's (JPJ) assessments, they're welcome to join the industry.' The companies have been given a 12-month conditional window to prepare their premises, integrate their systems with JPJ's MySIKAP portal, and meet technical requirements. However, Loke said some were expected to be operational in as little as three months.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


New Straits Times
15 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Sabah emerges as Malaysia's strategic frontier for upstream O&G investment
KUALA LUMPUR: Amid intensifying global energy uncertainty, Sabah is fast emerging as a compelling destination for upstream oil and gas (O&G) investments. The state offers international players a stable, underexplored and increasingly investor-friendly environment, industry analysts said. The shift reflects broader regional realignments in upstream energy strategy, as geopolitical instability in traditional oil-producing regions pushes investors toward safer, high-potential frontiers especially in Southeast Asia, they added. Economist Samirul Ariff Othman, an adjunct lecturer at Universiti Teknologi Petronas, told FMT that Sabah had recently been attracting more international oil companies. This was spurred by instability in the Middle East and Malaysia's comparatively stable investment climate. "Presently, Sabah leads in near-term FDI flows, followed by Sarawak," he said. "The 2025 Iran-Israel skirmish and heightened Red Sea tensions have made freight insurance, security costs and supply stability in the Middle-East and North America increasingly uncertain. "Investors are looking for lower-risk (and) high-potential alternatives, and Southeast Asia fits that profile," the portal quoted him as saying. Sabah's Rising Profile in Deepwater Exploration According to Samirul, Sabah's underexplored deepwater blocks particularly Blocks SB409 and SB310 are drawing renewed attention, alongside the redevelopment of the Kota Belud field, which is expected to ramp up activity in the second half of 2025. Industry players have taken notice. ConocoPhillips' recent pivot away from Sarawak toward Sabah underscores growing confidence in the latter's upstream potential. While Sarawak continues to command significant attention due to its advanced LNG infrastructure and active gas blocks such as SK318 and SK408, analysts warn that lingering regulatory ambiguities are clouding investor sentiment. "The friction between Petronas and Sarawak's state oil company, Petros, has created uncertainty around fiscal terms and licensing processes," said Samirul. In May, federal and state authorities announced a framework granting Petros the role of gas aggregator in Sarawak. However, legal disputes and unclear operational boundaries between the two entities remain unresolved. Tricia Yeoh, associate professor at University of Nottingham Malaysia, told the portal that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's announcement of broad agreement reached in February this year with Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Openg had failed to clear the air sufficiently. "Neither statement addresses Sarawak's claim (to resources) over 200 nautical miles of territorial waters, so that remains at large," she said, referring to Anwar's speech in the Dewan Rakyat on Feb 17 and a media release issued by Abang Johari the following day. Regulatory clarity is still lacking, Yeoh said, adding that ongoing lawsuits, such as the RM8 million bank guarantee dispute, continue to cast a shadow. Malaysia's PSC Framework Still Competitive Samirul acknowledged that Malaysia's production-sharing contracts (PSCs) remain among the most attractive in the region, especially when compared to Indonesia and Vietnam. Under current terms, contractors pay five per cent royalty each to federal and state governments, after recovering 70 per cent of costs. However, he warned that delays in PSC approvals, combined with high royalty burdens for marginal fields, could dull Malaysia's competitiveness. "The fundamentals are strong but speed and predictability are everything in today's investment climate," he said. Yeoh echoed the sentiment, calling on Putrajaya to clarify the conditions under which states like Sabah and Sarawak may receive PSC carve-outs. "Dragging this issue for another year or 10 would severely damage Malaysia's upstream outlook," she cautioned. "As I have stated previously, there needs to be a joint Petronas-Petros committee (comprising lawyers, financial and technical representatives and members of the federal and state governments) that works out these details." Yeoh added that the joint committee should be given the space to deliberate in private until a consensus is reached after which the outcome should be made public. "The nation can then move forward constructively," she said. Stronger Petronas Future Despite local challenges, Petronas continues to bolster its global standing through strategic upstream partnerships with international oil majors such as Eni, TotalEnergies, Idemitsu and ConocoPhillips both within Malaysia and in regional plays like Indonesia. Joint ventures help Petronas hedge geopolitical and cost-related risks while gaining access to advanced technologies, particularly in deepwater exploration and carbon management, said Samirul. "With global upstream costs rising due to inflation, supply chain bottlenecks, and deeper offshore exploration needs, joint ventures are a rational de-risking strategy," he said. Samirul explained that shared equity spreads exploration costs, reduces capital exposure and allows partners to pool advanced technologies. These partnerships also allow Petronas to gain technical know-how from international oil majors experienced in carbon management and digital exploration and production, which supports its energy transition goals, he added.


The Star
a day ago
- The Star
Rapid Bus revs up minibus services
KUALA LUMPUR: Diesel-powered minibuses are among the latest additions to Rapid Bus' fleet serving the Klang Valley and Penang, Transport Minister Anthony Loke announced. A total of 310 diesel buses will be deployed on selected high-demand routes to improve service frequency, he said. This will also be the final batch of diesel-powered buses purchased by Prasarana in line with the government's commitment to transitioning towards more environmentally friendly transport systems, Loke added. 'As the country's main public transport operator, Prasarana has played a key role in delivering safe, efficient and reliable bus and train services. 'The diesel bus programme forms part of Prasarana's long-term strategic plan to enhance its assets and strengthen operational capabilities,' he said during the unveiling ceremony of Rapid KL and Rapid Penang's diesel buses here yesterday. While manufactured by the Chinese company Higer, the components for the new buses are assembled locally in Johor. Loke said this supports technology transfer and the development of Malaysia's automotive sector. Fleet expansion: Loke (left) launching the new Rapid Bus diesel fleet. Also present are Prasarana president and group chief executive Mohd Azharuddin Mat Sah (second from left) and the Transport Ministry's secretary-general Datuk Jana Santhiran Muniayan (in blue shirt). — LOW BOON TAT/The Star 'These buses comply with Euro 5 emissions standards, which are among the strictest global benchmarks in regulating pollutants such as nitrogen oxide. 'This new fleet will help improve air quality, particularly in urban areas,' he said. Of the 310 units, 200 are 9-metre minibuses designed to serve residential areas that are less accessible to standard-sized buses. Of these, 70 will be allocated to Penang to further enhance first- and last-mile connectivity. Looking ahead, Loke said electric buses are expected to be introduced by next year, with the tender process for their procurement already concluded. 'We are in the process of appointing a vendor. 'Delivery of the electric buses is expected to take around 12 months,' he said, adding that one of the tender requirements is for the buses to be assembled locally under a completely knocked-down model. While foreign manufacturers are allowed to bid, successful tenderers must have local partners or be locally incorporated entities, Loke noted. Separately, he revealed that Keretapi Tanah Melayu Bhd's (KTMB) passenger services have yet to reach break-even. However, he pointed out that the government-linked company's freight services are generating profits. 'There is indeed a shortfall in operational spending. In terms of operations, we have not yet reached profitability or the break-even point,' he said, adding that the government continues to provide a funding gap allocation to KTMB to support operational costs. In 2023, KTMB earned RM112mil from cargo operations, accounting for nearly a quarter of its total revenue.


The Sun
a day ago
- The Sun
JPJ finalising Kejara system review to improve road safety
BANGI: The Road Transport Department (JPJ) is in the final phase of reviewing the Demerit Points System for Traffic Offences (Kejara), a key mechanism to penalise repeat offenders and dangerous drivers. JPJ director-general Datuk Aedy Fadly Ramli stated that the proposed improvements are part of a major overhaul announced by Transport Minister Anthony Loke. 'The Kejara system is currently in the final review stage at JPJ before we take it to the Transport Ministry for consideration on what improvements will be implemented,' he said during a press conference after an engagement session with lorry and express bus operators. Aedy Fadly explained that the review process requires time as it involves legal aspects and amendments. 'Amendments to the procedures will take time because it needs to go through higher levels such as the Attorney-General and so on,' he said. Previously, Loke highlighted inefficiencies in the current Kejara system, noting that demerit points were only deducted after offenders paid fines or faced court charges, not when summonses were issued. The updated system will include 20 high-risk offences linked to serious or fatal accidents. Meanwhile, Aedy Fadly clarified that Public Service Vehicle (PSV) and Goods Vehicle Licence (GDL) holders involved in serious accidents will undergo an assessment before any licence suspension. 'JPJ will not immediately suspend a licence. A show-cause notice will be issued first,' he said. Five drivers have had their PSV licences temporarily suspended so far. The engagement session also saw industry stakeholders requesting regular town hall discussions, which JPJ has agreed to conduct periodically. - Bernama