PUTRAJAYA: Drivers seeking to obtain vocational driving licences will no longer need to have to pass the theory examinations.
Transport Minister Anthony Loke, announcing this today, said the theory aspect for vocational driving licences will be held as online classes.
Drivers, however, would still need to pass their practical examinations.
This will involve those seeking Public Service Vehicle (PSV) licences as well as Goods Driving Licences (GDL).
Loke said this was one of the steps taken to improve the licence procedure for the PSV and GDL.
"However candidates applying for PSV bus and GDL lorry licence must still go through and pass the practical test," he said at a press conference today.
Loke added that the online classes can be done through platforms provided by the Road Transport Department (RTD), driving institutions, or qualified business intermediaries regulated under the RTD.
"Institutions and intermediaries must fully use the teaching modules or Syllabus for Vocational Licence theory class set by RTD.
"RTD will set the conditions and regulations related to the qualification of online platform preparation and regulate theory classes to ensure the validity and integrity of candidates."
"Candidates' attendance data and information will be integrated with the MySIKAP system to enable Vocational Licenses to be issued directly to them without requiring physical presence at the RTD counter.
Loke added that the syllabus for the theory class in all Vocational Licence categories especially involving taxi and e-hailing will be reviewed and improved by JPJ and the Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research.
He said this is done by obtaining inputs from industry players to ensure the syllabus' relevancy according to future needs.
"Improvements of the syllabus will be finalised in six months."
Meanwhile, following the announcement of the vehicle age limit for taxis and e-hailing being raised to 15 years compared to 10 years effective Jan 1, Loke said any vehicle that wants to be licenced for the purposes can do so at least a year before the maximum age limit.
He said the government also allows vehicles that have reached the age limit of 10 years to return for operation, given that they must re-apply for the licence.
"I would like to emphasise that the use of taxis and e-hailing is always subject to the approval of periodic inspections to ensure that only vehicles that comply with technical requirements and safety features are allowed to operate on the road.
"With the implementation of this new policy, I hope that the burden on taxi drivers and e-hailing can be eased, especially those who have been affected during the past Covid-19 pandemic," he said.