THERE was a suggestion that road tax be calculated on the kilometres travelled. This is an interesting proposal.
However, I would like to propose that road tax rates be based on vehicles’ weight rather than engine capacity.
Around 1970, rotary engine cars were on Malaysian roads when Asia Motors was selling Mazda cars, and road tax was lower because of their smaller capacity but powerful engines.
At the race track, these 1.2-litre rotary engines were classified with 2.0-litre piston engines, much the same way super- or turbocharged engines compete with naturally-aspirated engines.
Today, many cars are fitted with super- or turbocharged engines that generate more than adequate horsepower from small engines.
A large battery could also be fitted to complement the internal combustion engine to propel the car.
These hybrid models are even cheaper than normal cars because of tax incentives.
It will not be long before electric cars are on our roads, and their performance can be electrifying, as their acceleration puts many internal-combustion engine cars to shame.
As it is not practical to charge road tax based on the engine’s cubic capacity (none for electric vehicles), it would also be unfair to base it on horsepower, which indicates only its full potential, not utilisation.
As such, road tax should be based on vehicles’ weight, and those who drive SUVs, MPVs, pickups and vans should pay more than those who drive cars.
As for buses, it should be based on their weight without passengers, and maximum permissible weight for goods-carrying vehicles.
Those caught overloading should be fined 10 times the road tax. Such a road tax system is better than changing to one based on kilometres, which is akin to paying toll every time the car is used on the road.
Y. S. CHAN
Kuala Lumpur