State JPJ expects higher revenue this year
KUCHING: The state Road Transport Department (JPJ) is expected to contribute RM20 million to RM22 million to the federal government’s coffer this year.
Its director Mohd Syafiq Anas Abdullah said the projected revenue from driving licence, road tax and sales of vehicle plate numbers in Sarawak would increase between 5 and 10 per cent from the last year’s figure of RM20 million.
He said Kuching would remain the leading contributor, followed by Miri and Sibu.
He believed that their revenue would increase in 2019 when an electronic bidding system is implemented.
The E- bidding system, introduced by the new Transport Minister Anthony Loke, is meant for the public to bid for their favourite vehicle plate numbers.
Mohd Syafiq said the e-bidding system, which would come into force by January next year, would enable anyone to bid for any number with JPJ at a price affordable to them.
“With the implementation of ebidding, our customers need not go through runners, who normally keep so many numbers to be sold at higher prices.
“Starting next year, people will have to bid and pay directly to JPJ, which I think is good because it will certainly increase our revenue,” he told reporters after distributing ‘ bubur lambuk and bubur pedas Sarawak’ to JPJ-related agencies here yesterday.
Mohd Syafiq, however, could not provide the exact number of runners or non- government organisatios ( NGOs) involved in the sale of vehicle plate numbers in Sarawak.
“Roughly, there over 100 of them but I do not have the actual figure at hand,” he said.
He said as far as e- bidding is concerned, those who bid the highest price would get the number.
Loke recently announced that the previous government’s practice of allowing selected NGOs to sell special vehicle numbers would be immediately stopped.
“All plate number registration must go through JPJ without exception. I will stop NGOs from selling new number plates that we are rolling out.
“All revenue must go to the government as we need the money,” he was quoted as saying.