We watched a JPJ Runner at work in PJ JPJ office
In Malaysia, a JPJ runner is a third-party service provider who charges a FEE to car owners and car/motorcycle/truck/bus dealers (used and new) to execute FASTER transactions involving the Road Transport Department (Jabatan Pengangkutan Jalan, or JPJ).
Instead of the vehicle owner handling the process themselves, a runner takes over the so-called queueing/waiting long time, documentation and submissions for a handsome fee (easy money).
In September 2023, JPJ issued a statement urging Malaysians to use the MyJPJ app and avoid using a runner.
(WE strongly suggest that JPJ set up a special counter just to handle RUNNERS and not allow them to cut Q)
This was obviously a ‘wayang kulit’ to show Malaysians that the department did not have any ‘under table’ working methods and it was offering Malaysians a ‘fair’ and quick system to get the JPJ documentation (vehicle transfer or registration number change) done.
Well, since September 2023, we personally have been to JPJ Petaling Jaya 4 times (to sell and buy vehicles) and we have seen almost all the same runners hard at work and even a couple of new ones at work.
Here in the pictures below you can see a runner (with the sling bag and slippers holding docs and standing to go right after the person at the counter finishes their transaction) HE IS NOT using the MyJPJ app to get a Q number and instead just cutting in at a particular (per-determined) counter.
Let us explain in full. We arrived at JPJ with the buyer of our Perodua Kelisa at 7.35 am. At 7.45 am the MyJPJ comes alive and the waiting crowd outside the door rush forward to scan the QR code to get a Q number.
We were happy as our waiting time initially was not long. With the MyJPJ app you can wait at the JPJ cafeteria, have a drink, relax and when your number gets close, go back in and wait for your turn.
But this does not happen as you think.
While waiting for our number to be called in a few minutes, the system suddenly was ‘holding’ and moving very very slowly. What should have been an hour (before 8.50 or so to reach our turn had now moved to past 11.02am.
Why? Well, as you can see, once the runners ‘turn up for work’ they come with a ‘few cases’ and they just walk up to the pre-determined counter and hand in their cases to the officer.
The officer does not even look up at them. They just take the documents and do the necessary work/transfer and they leave. This is why our MyJPJ app Q number was stagnant.
Then there are other runners, like this one in our picture (with the sling bag and slippers) who wait just outside the JPJ entrance and try and get latecomers to use their services.
Negotiations are done openly, a fee is agreed and they take the docs and go straight in to the pre-determined counter without ANY Q NUMBER and just hand in the docs.
When we took these pictures, there were a number of people sitting behind and at the side of us. One smiled, one just sighed and another smiled and said, ‘you putting this on social media?’
I asked them all to do the same, take pictures and share on social media. They all just shook their head and one said, why bother, it is the Malaysian way and will not change.
Well, readers, is it time for change?
Will JPJ take note of our article here and STOP this abuse?
(WE strongly suggest that JPJ set up a special counter just to handle RUNNERS and not allow them to cut Q)
Will the JPJ officers allowing this to happen daily be reprimanded or will it be www.dsf.my that will be in trouble for highlighting this wrong practise?
Is it WRONG for Malaysians to highlight this runner issue?
