Last week, it was reported that Puspakom would no longer allow multiple slot bookings for the same number plate in an attempt to weed out middlemen and ‘runners’ who have been found to sell inspection appointment slots for a profit.
How much profit, you ask? Well, apparently to the tune of 200 times the original price for a slot, the New Straits Times reports. According to Puspakom CEO Mahmood Razak Bahman, these intermediaries are making nearly RM750 in profit by selling multiple inspection appointment slots. “One appointment slot costs only RM3.50, but some are selling it for up to RM750,” he said.
He said that one of the tactics used was using the same chassis number but different vehicle registration numbers to secure multiple appointment slots. “Investigations are still ongoing with the assistance of the road transport department (JPJ). We are looking into who and why they are doing this, and we will call in the involved runners,” he said.
Besides no longer allowing multiple slot bookings for the same number plate, Puspakom said that it will improve on the booking system by freezing the original slot if it is postponed to another day. The move is to prevent the original slot from being misused or sold to another party.
Meanwhile, JPJ director-general Datuk Aedy Fadly Ramli said the department was seeking assistance from relevant agencies like the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to determine what actions could be taken against the involved runners.
He said that JPJ was trying to track down the runners, but had no success so far. “For now, despite all our efforts, we have not been able to contact them. So, we are exploring other methods to locate them,” he said.
Looking to sell your car? Sell it with Carro.
