Loke denies allegations of cronyism in appointing vehicle inspection firms

FMT:

 

Loke denies allegations of

cronyism in appointing

vehicle inspection firms

FMT Reporters

-18 Feb 2025, 11:33 PM

Transport minister Loke Siew Fook says it would be foolish to announce the companies’ names if they are indeed crony companies.

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Transport minister Loke Siew Fook said no company has prior experience in the vehicle inspection sector as only Puspakom was previously allowed to provide such services in Malaysia.

PETALING JAYA: 

Transport minister Loke Siew Fook has denied allegations of cronyism in his ministry’s decision to appoint three companies to carry out motor vehicle inspection services, ending Puspakom’s long-standing monopoly of the industry.

“If I gave it to cronies, would I be foolish enough to announce the companies publicly?” he said in a video uploaded on TikTok.

“The companies applied and a technical committee under the road transport department conducted a technical evaluation.”

Last week, activist Ahmad Aliff AS Ahmad Shariffuddin claimed that Puspakom’s three-decade monopoly over the motor vehicle inspection industry would be replaced by crony companies linked to the government.

Putrajaya has appointed Wawasan Bintang, Pakatan Petroleum and Beriman Gold to carry out motor vehicle inspections alongside Puspakom, which will continue operating as usual.

Earlier today, Jerantut MP Khairil Nizam Khirudin questioned the technical criteria used to select the three companies, telling the Dewan Rakyat that they had no prior experience.

In his video on TikTok, Loke said that no company has prior experience in the vehicle inspection sector as only Puspakom was previously allowed to provide such services in Malaysia.

“Puspakom’s 30-year concession ended last year.

“If we continued their concession, it would mean the public has no other choice. But the government has opened this market to other companies,” he said.

Loke also denied claims that he was trying to break Puspakom’s monopoly because it is owned by Bumiputeras, stating that the three shortlisted companies are also Bumiputera companies.

Stating that the government’s policy is to encourage competition, he said other Bumiputera companies should also be offered the chance to provide their services.

Last week, Loke said the three companies were not the only ones eligible and that others could also apply to provide services to inspect the roadworthiness of vehicles.

“We regret that every issue that is raised always has to be tied to race,” he said today.

“We just want to help the country and the rakyat.”