Kuala Lumpur: The Transport Ministry has announced an extension of the commercial vehicle inspection period to 30 days before the Motor Vehicle Licence (MVL) expiry, increasing the window from the previous 14 days. This initiative aims to alleviate congestion at inspection centres.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Transport Minister Anthony Loke stated that this measure, effective March 17, will allow vehicle owners to better plan their inspection schedules and secure booking slots at Computerised Vehicle Inspection Centres (PUSPAKOM) in advance. The new policy ensures that vehicles can undergo inspections up to 30 days early without affecting the MVL expiry date or causing financial loss to owners, as the validity of the renewed licence will still be based on the original expiry date.
The Ministry of Transport (MOT) is also introducing flexibility by allowing self-declaration for five non-safety-related items. These include body lettering, speed limit signs, first aid kits, registration numbers, and passenger seat conditions for public service vehicles. Loke explained that this change would help shorten inspection times and reduce failures due to non-critical safety issues, with ongoing compliance ensured through roadside inspections.
In addition, the MOT is permitting heavy vehicles to use select highways in the Klang Valley during peak hours, provided they present proof of a PUSPAKOM inspection booking slip. This new allowance is part of a broader strategy to improve traffic flow and inspection efficiency.
Furthermore, Loke announced that PUSPAKOM has implemented several short-term improvements to enhance service delivery. These improvements include extending operating hours by four hours, totaling 12 hours per day, and opening on Saturdays throughout the month. To prevent misuse of booking slots by middlemen or runners, PUSPAKOM will prohibit multiple inspection bookings under the same registration number and will freeze the original inspection slot if rescheduled, preventing it from being misused or sold.
With these measures set to take effect on March 17, Loke anticipates that PUSPAKOM’s daily inspection capacity will increase by up to 15 percent, rising from 13,500 to 15,500 vehicles.