MoT: Exposure to corruption starts young, JPJ's e-testing mooted to stop the culture
Sanjay · Mar 22, 2024 10:47 AM
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Transport Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook that the Road Transport Department's (JPJ) new e-testing automated driving test system allows for greater integrity between students and government agencies.
"Usually, a person's first interaction with a government agency is taking the driving test at the age of 16 or 17. Birth certificates or MyKad (national identity cards) typically have parents accompanying them. However, for the driving test, it's usually a solo endeavour," Loke said at a recent media event.
"The first encounter with a government agency creates the perception that the government can be pao (bribed) - even if you fail the test, you can pay until you pass. After paying for the figurative 'cup of coffee', at 20, you can plagiarise to get a degree, at 25, you can pay to secure contracts. The culture of corruption will indeed take root in one's thinking."
"That's why I fully support the proposal for e-testing from the Malaysian Road Transport Department (JPJ). Fostering integrity starts with a clean driving test," Loke clarified.
JPJ e-testing
Loke's comments come after the JPJ announced the official introduction of the electronic driving test earlier this month. The pilot project sees three driving institutes across the country employing this system, whereby learner drivers will no longer have a JPJ officer sitting next to them during their tests.
Instead, all evaluations will be done in real-time remotely from a control room via cameras and sensors on the circuit. This system is used for practical tests such as the slope test, three-point turn, reverse parking, parallel parking, as well as the Z- and S-courses.
Earlier, Loke said that driving institutes can offer these e-testing starting April 2024. Loke also said that more candidates can be tested (up to 150 people per day) compared to the current system. Driving institutes can charge up to RM 100 for the service, and students can make a second attempt at each failed test element in the same day to no additional cost.
A closer look at the sensors and cameras on the driving school's Perodua Axia
The pilot trials for e-testing are being conducted by three driving institutes: Surfine Hitech Driving Institute in Hulu Langat, Selangor; Pusat Latihan Memandu Berjaya in Ulu Tiram, Johor; and Five Bintang Institute Abadi in Penang. Loke mentioned that three additional e-testing service providers are currently undergoing evaluation and will be announced later.
He emphasised that driving institutes will have a six-year period to transition from manual testing to e-testing. However, Loke encouraged them to embrace the new system at the earliest opportunity.
With humble beginnings collecting diecast models and spending hours virtually tuning dream cars on the computer, his love of cars has delightfully transformed into a career. Sanjay enjoys how the same passion for cars transcends boundaries and brings people together.
