KUALA LUMPUR: The Road Transport Department (RTD) has acknowledged the existence of 'cosmetic agents' who provide services such as tyre rentals to allow heavy vehicles to obtain approval from the Computerised Vehicle Inspection Centre (Puspakom).
RTD director-general Datuk Aedy Fadly Ramli said the department was planning to collaborate with the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry to address the issue.
"This is a dangerous scam because when undergoing inspection at Puspakom, they use rented tyres that are in good condition compared to the vehicle's actual worn-out tyres.
"However, RTD has no authority to enter these premises, so we will discuss this with the ministry.
"I will meet with the ministry's director-general of enforcement Datuk Azman Adam, within the next week or two to allow this issue to be thoroughly examined for further action as it involves public safety," he said.
The service of changing tyres or other components to ones in good condition just to pass the Puspakom inspection has been openly advertised on social media, attracting attention after the tragedy that claimed seven lives in Melaka on Dec 23.
The accident killed five family members, a tour bus driver, and one of his passengers at Kilometre 204 of the North-South Expressway (northbound) near the Ayer Keroh rest area.
It was reported that the front-right tyre of a tanker lorry driven by a 31-year-old man had detached and ended up in the middle lane, where it was struck by the tour bus that lost control and veered into the opposite lane, crashing into three other vehicles.
As a result, the department launched a nationwide surprise operation at Puspakom last Monday and discovered that some heavy vehicles had used old retreaded tyres that were unsafe and at risk of exploding during their inspections at the centre.
Aedy Fadly said RTD had previously detected weaknesses and requested Puspakom to improve their standard operating procedures (SOP) for vehicle inspections to prevent approval given to unsafe vehicles on the road.
However, he said, the same incidents continued, and they managed to detect unsafe vehicles that were approved for inspection during a recent surprise operation at Puspakom Wangsa Maju.
He said that similar cases were found at several Puspakom branches nationwide during the same operation, and they had started a technical investigation to allow appropriate action to be taken against those involved.
"The department had previously detected weaknesses and issued warnings to address the issue of vehicles failing inspections but still being approved. This matter is being taken seriously to prevent it from continuing," he said.
"This is crucial because it involves public safety. I understand that Puspakom has made efforts to improve its internal integrity. However, during the recent surprise operation, we had to take stern action.
"We found that the vehicle inspection approval forms issued during the operation did not match the actual condition of the vehicles at the centre," he said.
Aedy Fadly mentioned that he would meet with Puspakom chief executive officer Mahmood Razak Bahman, to discuss the issue in more detail after the technical investigation is fully completed.