Gov't is urged to reform driver's licence procedure - MTUC

SHAH ALAM - The government is urged to reform the procedure to obtain a driver's licence because the existing procedure pressures the lower class with high payment rates.

Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC) secretary general Kamarul Baharin Mansor in a statement on Sunday said that the rate charged by driving institutions is high, yet the service is not as high of quality.

According to him, the government should conduct periodic monitoring and inspections to guarantee a quality service.

"The estimated fee charged to take a class D licence is between RM1,200 to RM2,300. It is a quite high amount and burdens the low-income group (B40).

"Driving institutions make profit and do not take into account the social responsibility that needs to be done for the people especially the lower class," he said.

At the same time, Kamarul Baharin said that the procedure at the institutions is awkward as a student who was confirmed to be colour blind had to take a computer test with questions involving colours and hues.

He said that if the student failed, then the Road Transport Department (RTD) would give a special computer test for which a fee will be charged.

He argued that it should not have happened if the student had a doctor's verification to be exempted.

"The second payment for the special computer test is a burden on the B40 group and a waste of human resources.

"Not just that. The fee to cancel the driving test with RTD at the rate of RM100 is unreasonable," he said.

Kamarul further said that the extra payment required for having booked with the RTD is nonsense and driving institutions are seeking profit the wrong way.

Kamarul was of the view that an assessment on driving institutions need to be done by students to improve the quality of services provided.

In the meantime, he also suggested that all matters related to RTD services such as computer and driving tests can be done directly or online.

"RTD must develop a system that helps the people by reducing the involvement of driving institutions.

"They (driving institutions) only need to focus on training and all administration is done by the students themselves. This approach will be able to reduce bureaucracy and reduce the cost of obtaining a licence," he said.