Driving schools ready to follow SOP after JPJ gives the green light for their reopening.
Reopening of driving schools seen to help boost e-hailing services
PETALING JAYA: The Malaysian Driving Institute Association aims to register 30,000 new drivers to help boost e-hailing services after the Road Transport Department (JPJ) gave the green light for the reopening of the driver’s training and testing sector from June 1.
Its president Mat Aris Bakar stressed that the association’s 181 driving institutes across the country would comply with the standard operating procedure (SOP) outlined by the relevant authorities to ensure both the driver and instructor were protected from Covid-19.
“At the moment, there is a lot of demand for e-hailing and courier services.
“With the resumption of operations, we hope to register 30,000 individuals who can be e-hailing drivers and do other similar jobs to help the sector and our economy,” he said yesterday.
It was reported on May 29 that JPJ said driving institutes would be allowed to open during the conditional movement control order (MCO) with operating hours from 8am to 4pm.
“Authorised services include driver’s education curriculum, driving training services, pre-test driving services, theory and practical (circuit and road) testing services and computerised legal test services at JPJ-accredited testing centres,” said the department.
Mat Aris said steps to be taken to ensure the health of everyone concerned would include temperature screening for each individual before they enter the premises or facilities.
Everyone would be required to wear face masks, adhere to social distancing and use hand sanitisers, he added.
Others included disinfecting public areas at the institutes and the vehicles used for training before and after their operation, he said.
Operators were also required to appoint a supervisor to ensure that all SOPs were strictly followed, he said.
“We understand that this is to ensure that everyone is safe and healthy.
“We all need to play our roles to break the Covid-19 infection chain,” Mat Aris said.
Unisex Driving Academy (Nilai) managing director Gensen Foo said he was pleased with the government’s latest decision as he barely made any income during the MCO period.
“I have 30 driving instructors under me and I can no longer afford to pay them. We are not like tuition centres or schools where the courses can be conducted online.
“We will adhere to all the guidelines set by the government,” he said.
Foo said previously in his academy, which is located in Sungai Buloh, one class could fit 50 students. But under the new SOP, it could only fit 20 students.
“Students are also not allowed to wait at the waiting area or lobby and they need to make appointments,” he said, stressing that he would comply with the SOP set by the government.
Another driving institute operator, who only wanted to be known as Lau, said he would have a meeting with the JPJ to get a clearer view of the guidelines.
“I have yet to reopen my academy. It will be reopened after I receive some clearer instructions from them,” he said without elaborating.
Takaful insurance consultant Farrah Shareeza Ibrahim said she just registered for driving lessons at Gombak as she needed to travel around for work.
“Of course I am worried about my safety but the SOP is needed under the new norms.
“I believe the driving academy has imposed certain SOPs,” she said.