This article first appeared in The Edge Financial Daily on April 2, 2019 - April 8, 2019

KUALA LUMPUR: The government is conducting a study on streamlining the enforcement of traffic laws across multiple agencies, said Transport Minister Anthony Loke. “We are heading in that direction. A study is being undertaken. We hope this can be implemented,” he told the Dewan Rakyat.

Loke was responding to PAS deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man’s (PAS-Kubang Kerian) question on whether the government intends to streamline or combine all agencies involved in road-related laws into one to reduce overlaps.

“We agree. If possible, the enforcement should be streamlined, so it is not disorderly. The public is sometimes unaware about which agency is undertaking the enforcement,” said Loke.

Road laws are enforced by multiple federal agencies working separately on issues. For example, traffic laws come under the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM), vehicle modifications under the Road Transport Department and vehicle exhaust quality under the Department of Environment.

Some overlaps are seen in traffic laws — for example, the PDRM and local councils issuing summons for traffic obstructions such as improper parking.

On another matter, the Land Public Transport Agency (Apad) will be meeting e-hailing companies this week, said Loke, to iron out details on the operating licences for their drivers.

“We have been in touch with [many] e-hailing companies. Most of [their drivers] have applied for the Public Service Vehicle (PSV) licence, and some of them got their approval,” said Loke.

“A meeting between the Apad and e-hailing companies will be held this week,” he told reporters outside Dewan Rakyat yesterday.

At end-2018, it was reported that all e-hailing drivers can undergo the PSV course beginning yesterday and obtain their licences — similar with the requirement for existing taxi drivers.

The PSV licence is compulsory for all e-hailing drivers beginning July this year. It has been reported that the PSV training modules take six hours to complete, at a fee capped at RM200.

In September last year, Loke said Malaysia has about 200,000 e-hailing drivers, three-quarters of whom are part-time drivers — compared with 60,000 registered taxi drivers nationwide.

On a different matter, Loke said no airline has proposed to the ministry to develop airports in the country. “There is no airline applying to develop airports. As far as we are concerned, there is separation between airport operators and airlines.”

Kedah is slated to welcome a second international airport in Kulim. The state already has an international airport on Langkawi island.

Together with the Penang International Airport in Bayan Lepas, there are three international airports in the northern corridor if Kulim’s airport — reportedly to be a privately funded initiative — kicks off.

On July 19 last year, it was reported that AirAsia Group Bhd and Airbus SE are in discussions to develop an industrial aeronautical centre in Malaysia, which industry experts speculate may include a low-cost carrier terminal.

According to AirAsia, a feasibility study comprising three sections would be carried out over 18 months.