PUTRAJAYA: The Transport Ministry will not be implementing any cash-for-clunkers programme in the near future.

Minister Anthony Loke said due to the public outcry, the ministry will stop the study on the matter.

During a press conference at the ministry here today, he assured Malaysians that the government will not compel users to scrap cars that are more than 10 years old, for cash.

He said the misunderstanding arose two weeks ago when he made a statement regarding the ministry studying the possibility of running the programme.

“I merely said that the ministry is studying it, not (that we are) going to implement it,” he said, adding that the misunderstanding blew up on social media where he was heavily criticised.

“Due to overwhelming voices disagreeing (with the programme), I have ordered for the study to be postponed indefinitely.

“We no longer need to study it as implementing it is not possible at this time.

“Owners of old vehicles need not worry as we (the government) listen to the people,” he said.

On the issue of abandoned vehicles in housing areas nationwide, Loke said the ministry is looking into the Road Transport Department (JPJ) issuing deregistration certificates for these vehicles.

He said this is necessary as at present, local authorities, in Selangor and Kuala Lumpur for example, could not take action and scrap these vehicles as they are still technically registered.

He said that the issue is important as these abandoned vehicles can cause health and environmental problems in housing areas.

“There is currently no regulation under JPJ that states such (abandoned) vehicles can be scrapped (by local authorities) straight away as these vehicles are still registered.

“I have directed JPJ to study a mechanism to issue deregistration certificates for such old and abandoned vehicles that have been left in housing areas like scrap metal.

“Armed with this certificate, the local authorities would be able to scrap these vehicles.

“We hope to get this done soon in order to help local authorities, especially in states where there is a high concentration of population,” he said, adding that many of these complaints came from Selangor and Kuala Lumpur, among others.

Source : NST online