KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 2 — Malaysians will be able to sit for the written portion of their driving test online at driving institutes nationwide starting January next year, Transport Minister Anthony Loke announced today.

He added that the test fee will also be reduced to RM20 instead of the current RM27.

“We do not want there to be a mindset that this service is monopolised by any particular company and have opened it to any driving institute that are graded three stars and above and fulfil certain criteria.

“It is a very basic service in which the standard question will be provided by JPJ, and the rate will also be RM7 cheaper than the current RM27 fee,” he said at news conference here.

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JPJ is the Malay abbreviation of the Road Transport Department.

Currently, the written paper which tests a person’s knowledge of the highway code, can only be taken at 103 examination centres and are conducted by three accredited companies: MyEG, KOMMS, and MySpeed.

Among the criteria driving institutions must meet to qualify for hosting the online driving tests include providing examination rooms with transparent windows and closed circuit televisions, separate and lockable server rooms, and computers.

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Loke said the Road Transport Department (RTD) foresees over 200 centres will provide the online driving test service.

He said currently, there are 103 existing examination centres and 150 driving institutions that are graded three stars and above.

“As of 2017, there are about 150 driving institutions graded three stars and above, so we are looking at potentially 150 extra centres that will be providing this online service. All they need is computers and a server room,” said Loke, after visiting the RTD office here.

He also said the government may merge the written tests for driving licence applicants who fall under category D, and motorcycles, under category B2.

“Right now, the written examination for license B2 and D are done separately, so the candidate would have to sit for the exam twice.

“We don’t have a final decision on this yet, but we are seriously considering to merge the two soon,” he said.

Loke expressed his disappointment over the small number of illegal driving licence holders who have surrendered their licences.

He reminded that the 14,000 illegal driving licence holders have two more weeks to do so before action will be taken against them.

“The number is too small for me to say it. But they have two more weeks and we do not want to jump into conclusion.

“If they come forward within a months, then there won’t be any punitive action taken. By if they don’t, then we will take action,” he said.

A total of 14,000 illegal driving licence holders throughout the country were given one month from September 13 to surrender their licences at any state RTD Integrity Unit or faced being track down by the authorities. 

This was exposed  following arrests made by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission since September 4.