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We Propose That The Malaysian Transport Minister Dato' Seri Dr Ling Liong Sik Also Wage A Campaign Against All Irregularities In The Transport Department, RIMV, and Puspakom, To Take The Hassle Out Of Motorists Especially Commercial Vehicle Owners. Statement by Dr Tan Seng Giaw, DAP National Vice-Chairman and MP for Kepong on Dr Ling Liong Sik's determination to fight the Ecstasy menace and Malaysian Chinese Association, MCA's cooperation with the police to identify the source of Ecstasy supply. | |||||||
| Just like other countries, Narcotics menace threatens the social fabric of Malaysia. Amphetamine-Type Stimulants, ATS, such as Ecstasy, flood the society. We should continue to fight narcotics and ATS scourge. MCA and its president Dr Ling Liong Sik are having a publicity campaign against Ecstasy. Let us cooperate in a long-term war not just on ATS but also narcotics or psychotropic drugs. We need endless efforts to combat the drug scourge. MCA wants to get to the source of Ecstasy. That is fine. Besides that, it would be more complete to find the source or sources of narcotics such as heroin. After all, known narcotic addicts are about 270,000, maybe 500,000. Narcotic menace knows no race. We hope MCA will declare war agianst narcotics and other plights. We can cooperate. The Transport Minister understands all aspects of his ministry, road transport department, RIMV and Puspakom, the privatized company to register and test vehicles. For instance, registration and biannual tests of commercial vehicles give motorists headache. Annoucement such as on 20 July 2000 that eight out of 33 Puspakom employees allegedly involved in corrupt practices between 1995 and now were sacked after investigations may not help. The statement that the ministry will cooperate | |
with the Anti-Corruption Agency in its investigations involving 124 Puspakom vehicle examiners and middlemen for alleged corruption sounds good. But, we require effective actions. For example, a van with a road tax of RM430 needs examination card of RM40. If it fails inspection, the cost is RM15 each time. A vehicle may fail eight or 10 times. An under-table payment may be RM50 to 80 each time. We agree that a vehicle in good condition is safer on the road. Biannual tests to ensure road worthy vehicles seem a good procedure. These must be fair to the public. On the other hand, there are many irregularities. Red-tape and bureaucracy spawn irregularities. How do we help tens of thousands of commercial vehicle owners? How can motorists avoid the hassle? Dr Ling can also launch a long-term campaign against irregularities in his ministry, road transport department, RIMV and Puspakom. He can then investigate all aspects like registration and tests of vehicles. This campaign can run pari passu with the campaign against Ecstasy pills. If RIMV can cooperate with the police to use the Transport Act to fight drivers on Ecstasy, it can do the same thing against transport irregularities. If these can be eradicated, millions of motorists will welcome it.
Dr Tan Seng Giaw | |||||
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