What is the real reason a member of parliament suggested mandatory inspections?
While many Malaysians do love a good classic (some really push that word to its absolute limit), there is no denying that some older cars are prone to breaking down which can cause accidents or traffic. So perhaps then, some believe that these old cars should undergo a mandatory inspection before being allowed to renew their road tax.
This suggestion, reported by FMT, comes from Jimmy Puah (PH-Tebrau), who raised the issue in the Dewan Rakyat. According to Puah, implementing such a measure is crucial because older vehicles are more prone to breakdowns. These breakdowns not only contribute to traffic congestion but also pose potential safety risks to other road users.
Moreover, in addition to vehicle inspections, Puah proposed that the government introduce cash incentives to encourage car owners to scrap their old vehicles. This initiative, which aims to phase out ageing cars from Malaysian roads, is similar to the well-known “Cash for Clunkers” scrappage program.
Unfortunately, while this program has been discussed for years, it was previously put on hold due to public concerns about its benefits and effectiveness. Puah’s suggestion is particularly relevant given the current state of Malaysia’s vehicle population. As of the latest data, there are over 36.3 million vehicles in the country, which surpasses the total population of Malaysia, excluding children under 17 and senior citizens over 80.
In fact, Puah stated that nearly every Malaysian now owns at least two vehicles. Well, obviously this is not entirely accurate but the statistics do add up given how some Malaysians have multiple cars and others none at all. This rapid increase in the number of cars on the road contributes to traffic congestion, pollution, and other transportation-related issues.
On top of that, the call for mandatory vehicle inspections and scrappage incentives highlights the growing need for policies that address the challenges posed by an aging vehicle fleet. Older vehicles often lack modern safety features, consume more fuel, and produce higher emissions, making them less environmentally friendly.
Furthermore, a well-implemented scrappage program could also help stimulate the local economy by encouraging car owners to purchase newer, more fuel-efficient models. This would lead to increased demand for new vehicles, benefiting the automotive industry and promoting technological advancements in vehicle manufacturing.
Well, as with anything else in this country, parliament tends to drag on discussions for months on end and oftentimes, this is for nothing as nothing ever comes out of these discussions. What do you think about this though? Should older cars be inspected in order to renew their road tax?
