‘LESEN Terbang’ or licences obtained through illegal means has been the bane of Malaysian motoring for countless years.
The NST has reported numerous times about these illegal practices, but now a new move by recently appointed Transport Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook may help to end the practice once and for all.
Bernama quoted Loke as saying that a pilot automation project will be implemented before the end of this year to computerise and monitor from a control room the going-ons on the test circuit.
“It cannot be denied that student learners who refuse to give bribes are intentionally failed. We will make it compulsory for all driving institutes to install dashboard cameras. The camera system would give student learners a chance to appeal if they feel they have been unfairly failed by their instructors,” he said.
For the road examinations, dashboard cameras will be required to be installed in the test cars by driving institutes. The cost of doing this will be borne by the individual institutes.
Loke added that the dashboard camera installation would be done in stages.
He also announced an initiative to curb the escalating cost of driving licences.
Loke said he had instructed driving institutes to list driving test charges to avoid any hidden charges and corrupt practices.
This was to prevent guaranteed pass packages which could cost up to RM2,200, and contribute to these practices.
Loke warned that the authorities would not hesitate to revoke the licences of institutes that violated the rules.
This is a timely move that should have long been implemented to reduce the instances of graft related to road transport.
However, there is a long list of offenders out there that the new Transport Ministry leadership need to contend with.
Two years ago, it was reported that 1.2 million Malaysians are driving on the roads without driving licences, and it is unlikely that this problem has been resolved.
Then there is the new problem of foreigners driving on our roads, without the proper licences, some for commercial purposes.
A three-week statewide operation last year by the Road Transport Department in Selangor netted 173 foreigners nabbed for driving without Competent Drivers’ Licences (CDLs), and there are possibly thousands in the state alone.
The new initiative by Loke is necessary and a step in the right direction at solving longstanding issues related to road transport.