PUTRAJAYA – Hearsay from the public alone is not enough to launch enforcement efforts, as authorities need strong evidence to act decisively, said Transport Minister Anthony Loke following the arrest of a suspect in an alleged bribery case involving Puspakom vehicle inspections.
“Enforcement is not easy, as we can see from this Puspakom case,” Loke said today, after his New Year’s address to the Transport Ministry staff.
“Although there was hearsay from the public before this on these corrupt practice claims, we cannot take any action without strong evidence.”
Loke highlighted that the suspect, who is a “runner”, was identified and detained during a surprise nationwide operation at Puspakom centres, marking a breakthrough in tackling allegations that have circulated for some time.
Previously, it was also reported that two Puspakom officers from the Wangsa Maju branch had been called in for questioning.
“This time, based on our surprise operations and investigation, we managed to identify and remand the runner based on strong evidence,” he said.
The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) recently arrested a suspect in his 40s who allegedly bribed Puspakom personnel “hundreds of ringgit” to expedite the approval of vehicle inspection reports. The operation was part of an integrated effort involving the MACC and the Ministry of Transport to address corruption within vehicle inspection services.
“This integrated action plan is a practice we must continue,” Loke added.
“I want to stress that we must ensure that our enforcement is effective and strategic.”
Puspakom, the sole provider of mandatory vehicle inspections in Malaysia, has faced public criticism over claims of corrupt practices for years.
Loke reiterated the importance of maintaining a strategic approach to enforcement, citing this operation as a model for future efforts.
Further investigations into the case are ongoing, with the MACC pledging to leave no stone unturned in addressing systemic corruption. – January 6, 2025