FOMCA NEWS

10 years too short for car’s lifespan, says Fomca

Thursday, February 21, 2013 - 14:14

 

 

by R. Pavithraa

Location: 

PETALING JAYA

 

 

       THE Federation of Malaysian Consumers Associations (Fomca) said yesterday 10 years was too short of a time for a car’s lifespan and most people would be against this policy.

''Ten years is way too short. Most Malaysians look after their cars well and even after 10 years, they are still roadworthy,’’ said its chief executive officer, Datuk Paul Selva Raj.

He said a better alternative would be for all vehicles to undergo a mandatory road-worthiness test once they were 15 years old.

       He was responding to a proposal by the Malaysia Automotive Institute that vehicles more than 10 years old must be exited from roads should the full Vehicle End of Life (ELV) Policy be implemented.

          “Maybe, at the most, public vehicles like school buses should have a time limit. As far as private vehicles are concerned, if they are roadworthy they should be allowed on the road,” he said.

There are 22 million vehicles on the road and more than five million of them are more than 10 years old.

            Said Khoo Kah Jin, president of the Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Car Dealers and Credit Companies Association: “If this policy is going to be implemented, they should come with a proper plan, and compensation.”

            He agreed with Fomca that vehicles more than 15 years old should undergo yearly inspections. The scrap policy also suggested that the government give a nominal value of RM5,000 to the car owner.

         Car owners feel that if the car is roadworthy and well- maintained it should be allowed on the road. “If the car is in good condition, then it is worthy of being on the road,” said Ramasamy Karuppan, an owner of a 16- year-old Honda Accord.

           “A vehicle that is well-maintained and well-serviced can last for more than 10 years. I do agree that there are old cars that are a nuisance, so a yearly inspection to test the road worthiness will be the best solution.”

           Richardas Arulanthu, a pensioner who owns a 10-year-old Proton Wira, said as long as a car was kept in good contition “it will not trouble anyone”. 

       All vehicles aged 15 years and above were required to go for a mandatory annual inspection for a road tax renewal under the The National Automotive Policy in 2009 but it was not put to effect because of a public uproar.