28/01/2026

WEDNESDAY | JAN 28, 2026

FOLLOW

ON YOUTUBE

4

Malaysian Paper

/theSunMedia /

Grant programme for old car owners launched

Indian Transformation Unit transferred PUTRAJAYA: The Malaysian Indian Transformation Unit, previously under the Prime Minister’s Department, has been transferred to the Human Resources Ministry. Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri R. Ramanan said the Cabinet recently approved the transfer. “I would like to express my gratitude to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and the Cabinet for entrusting the ministry with this important responsibility. “The ministry will carry out this responsibility to the best of its ability,” he said at the signing and handover ceremony for the Dharma Madani programme notification letters here yesterday. According to the ministry, the transfer aims to ensure the planning, implementation and monitoring of initiatives for the Malaysian Indian community are conducted in a more organised, integrated and effective manner, in line with the country’s human capital development framework under the Madani government. The unit, originally known as the Socioeconomic Development of the Indian Community, is a special unit addressing the socioeconomic development of the Indian community in Malaysia. Among the major tasks of the unit is to identify current issues and challenges affecting the Indian community, implement socioeconomic development initiatives and coordinate cooperation between the government and the private sector towards the development of the Indian community in general. Ramanan said no conflict would arise from placing the unit under the ministry, provided governance and regulatory requirements are observed. “We will follow through on the programmes we plan to implement as well as those already announced. As long as proper governance is observed and programme conditions are met, there will be no conflicts.” At the ceremony, Ramanan handed over the first phase of the Dharma Madani programme assistance to 155 temples, with each receiving RM20,000, totalling RM3.1 million. – Bernama Ministry in constant contact with WHO over Nipah virus cases PUTRAJAYA: The Health Ministry is in constant contact with the World Health Organisation (WHO) and relevant international counterparts to verify reports circulating on social media regarding Nipah virus infections reported in India. The ministry yesterday said the situation is being monitored closely through official channels, including engagement with WHO and bilateral communications with the authorities concerned, to ensure accurate and timely information is obtained. “Any further public health measures will be decided based on confirmed information and careful risk assessment, in line with national policies and established procedures.” In the meantime, it said public health preparedness at points of entry, including international airports, seaports and land border crossings, remains consistently operational in accordance with established protocols. These measures include health surveillance and risk-based screening of travellers, clear referral pathways for travellers with symptoms or suspected illness, and operational readiness of the Emergency Medical Team in line with existing infectious disease guidelines. WHO said the Nipah virus disease is a zoonotic infection that can be transmitted to humans through contact with infected animals, contaminated food or from person to person. It can cause fever, headache, cough, sore throat and difficulty in breathing. – Bernama

o Initiative aims to address road safety risks posed by ageing vehicles, ease financial burden: Minister

Ű BY HARITH KAMAL newsdesk@thesundaily.com

PUTRAJAYA: The government has launched a new matching grant programme offering incentives of up to RM4,000 to encourage owners of vehicles older than 20 years to replace them with newer, safer models. Transport Minister Anthony Loke said the initiative aims to address road safety risks posed by ageing vehicles while easing the financial burden on car owners. Under the scheme, eligible buyers will receive a government matching grant of up to RM2,000, which will be matched on a one-to-one basis by participating national car manufacturers, bringing the total incentive to RM4,000 per vehicle. “This is a practical, targeted and high-impact programme that gives direct benefits to the people, especially owners of old vehicles who face high maintenance costs and safety risks,” he said at the launch of the Matching Grant Programme for the Replacement of Old Vehicles yesterday. He said many Malaysians continue to drive vehicles over two decades old out of necessity rather than choice, citing financial constraints and daily transport needs. “These vehicles are typically less safe, more prone to breakdowns, fuel-inefficient and no longer compliant with current safety standards,” he added. Announced under Budget 2026, the programme has been allocated RM10 million and is expected to benefit at least 5,000 vehicle owners nationwide. To qualify, vehicles must be over 20 years old and disposed of through an Authorised Automotive Treatment Facility (AATF), before being de-registered via the Road Transport Department’s Online Vehicle Deregistration System (e-DeREG). “This is not just an administrative exercise. Removing old vehicles from the road is a safety intervention that could prevent crashes, reduce injuries and save lives.” According to department data, Malaysia had 19.69 million registered vehicles last year,

Loke (centre) said many Malaysians continue to drive vehicles over two decades old out of necessity rather than choice, citing financial constraints and daily transport needs. – AMIRUL SYAFIQ/THESUN

made under government supervision to ensure inclusivity. Participation will be handled directly through Proton and Perodua showrooms, with implementation starting immediately. “If this programme is successful, we will return to the Finance Ministry to demonstrate its economic, safety and environmental impact and seek further allocations.” Separately, Loke revealed that the government is preparing a vehicle renewal programme specifically for taxi drivers, with details expected to be finalised and announced by February. He said the initiative, led by the Transport Ministry secretary-general in consultation with relevant stakeholders, will focus on improving the condition and appearance of ageing taxis. The programme will target conventional taxi drivers, many of whom continue to operate vehicles over 20 years old. Further details will be shared once preparations are complete, he added.

with 4.07 million, about 20.7%, having inactive road tax for three years or more, putting them at risk of being classified as abandoned. Loke said the e-DeREG system would simplify the deregistration process, making it faster, more transparent and citizen friendly while ensuring old vehicles are disposed of legally and do not return to the roads illegally. The programme is being implemented in collaboration with national carmakers Proton and Perodua. Vehicles of any brand are eligible for scrapping but the matching grant applies only to the purchase of new Proton and Perodua models, he said. For Proton, most models qualify for the full RM4,000 rebate except for the new Saga and e.MAS 5, which are eligible for up to RM2,000. Details for Perodua models will be announced separately. The initiative also covers Sabah and Sarawak, despite the absence of AATF facilities in the two states. Alternative disposal arrangements will be

C02 emissions by new cars may reach 3.4m tonnes PETALING JAYA: The cars Malaysians bought last year could release 3.4 million tonnes of carbon dioxide every year, which is as much carbon as a small country, a new report warns. year, the same as the total emissions of (Southern African country) Lesotho,” said RimbaWatch director Adam Farhan. “This shows just how much emissions private car use adds to Malaysia’s carbon footprint,” he noted. for petrol cars, he said. He warned that EVs alone cannot solve Malaysia’s transport problem. “We need fast, reliable and affordable public transport, not just in Kuala Lumpur, but alslo across the country.

In its report “The Contribution of Malaysia’s Automotive Sector to Climate Change”, environmental group RimbaWatch found that over 825,000 petrol cars were registered in Malaysia in 2025. Over their lifetimes, these vehicles are expected to burn 24.65 billion litres of petrol – enough to fill more than 9,000 Olympic sized swimming pools – and release around 60 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (tCO2e) into the atmosphere. “That is about 3.4 million tCO2e every

“Better bus services, walkable streets, and first and last-mile options such as e-scooters are essential to reduce reliance on private cars,” he stated. The report also calls for road tax reforms that reflect a vehicle’s real environmental impact, rather than just engine size. It urges the government to set interim carbon targets for vehicles, gradually reducing emissions to reach near-zero by 2050. – BY HARITH KAMAL

The report also challenges the common belief that switching to electric vehicles (EVs) automatically makes things greener. Adam explained that if all 825,000 new cars last year had been EVs, Peninsular Malaysia’s annual emissions would actually be slightly higher, at 3.66 million tCO2e. By contrast, in Sarawak, where most power comes from renewable sources such as hydropower, EVs produce far less carbon – 68g CO2e per kilometre compared with 166g