Lukewarm response to latest tint ruling
KUCHING: The latest ruling on the tint level of private vehicle’s rear side windows and windshield has received lukewarm response from locals including those working at car accessories shops.
A road user named only as Lee, 23, said he had no intention to tint his car despite the latest regulation on the tint limit.
“I do not see the need to lower further the visible light transmission (VLT) level of my vehicle. Even with higher tint level, it does not translate into cooler cabin anyway,” he said.
He said his vehicle rear windows and windshield already had a VLT level of 50 per cent.
Visible light transmission is a measurement of the amount of visible lights transmitted through a material.
A worker at a well-known car accessories shop in Jalan Batu Kawa, meanwhile, said there was no significant increase in appointments to change the tint level of customers’ rear side windows and windshield.
“The thing about the tinting industry is that it is a cycle; the demand for tinting service fluctuates. We do not foresee a huge increase in business just because of the announcement made by Transport Minister Anthony Loke on the new tint ruling,” said the worker who wished not to be named, yesterday.
I do not see the need to lower further the visible light transmission (VLT) level of my vehicle. Even with higher tint level, it does not translate into cooler cabin anyway. — Lee, road user
Another road user, Lai, said she was sceptical about the announcement, saying the new tint ruling was just another avenue for the federal government to source for more revenue.
“It is ridiculous to pay RM5,000 just to be able to have our vehicles fully tinted,” she said.
She also doubted the people were willing to fork out such a big sum of money just to lawfully darken their windshield and side windows.
Loke was quoted on Thursday that the federal government would be able to generate an income of RM85 million from the 17,816 permits for darker tint on the front side windows that are set to expire.
Effective May 8, private vehicle owners are able to fully tint their rear side windows and windshield while VLT for front side windows and windshield continue to remain at 70 per cent and 50 per cent respectively.