Saturday, August 30, 2008

Puspakom's monopoly may be removed

Saturday August 30, 2008 MYT 4:21:24 PM
Puspakom's monopoly may be removed
By TEH ENG HOCK

KUALA LUMPUR: Puspakom may no longer hold the exclusive rights to inspect and certify commercial vehicles.
Transport Minister Datuk Ong Tee Keat said he was considering requests from various quarters, including from Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Rakyat MPs and non-governmental organisations (NGOs), to allow other companies to compete with Puspakom.
"We are considering this issue, and we have to look into the current concession agreement and also the negotiations with Puspakom that were conducted before I took office. We have to see if we are bound by any agreements," he said.
However, Ong would not be drawn into revealing when the study on the proposal will be completed or when a decision will be made.
"So far, there are no business proposals yet. Just the proposal to remove Puspakom's exclusivity," he said.
On the swoop by the Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) on Puspakom employees, Ong said this had affected the company's capacity and services, and he had instructed Puspakom's management to act swiftly to overcome the problem.
He said he had also asked the Road Safety Department and the Road Transport Department to help identify the vehicles which had supposedly been passed by corrupted staff.
"We need to identify the vehicles and re-inspect them. Otherwise, this might pose a risk to road safety," he said Saturday after launching a Chinese art painting and calligraphy exhibition at Nirvana Memorial Centre.
The exhibition will be open from 10am to 6pm from Aug 30 to Sept 3.