THE RM5,000 fee for fully tinted car windows will go to government coffers in a transparent manner, unlike the use of middlemen by the previous administration, Transport Minister Anthony Loke said.

“The government did not get a sen previously, for granting approvals for tinted car windows.

“I am told that middlemen were used, that RM8,000 was paid to obtain approval, and that some of these middlemen were in the transport minister’s office,” Loke said at a press conference today.

“I want to say this clearly today – don’t bother looking for anyone in my office to get approval. Everything must go through the proper process.”

Loke had called for a press conference today to respond to reactions over his announcement two days ago on new window tint rules for private vehicles.

The new rules that allow darker tint up to 70% for passenger side windows as well as as the rear windshield has drawn divided opinions from among the police force, with those against it saying it would encourage criminal activity.

The new rules also impose a RM5,000 fee for a two-year permit for fully tinted windows. This was criticised by some quarters, such as Loke’s predecessor Liow Tiong Lai, who accused the government of making money out of it. 

Loke said the fee, which applies for one vehicle, is expected to earn the government RM6 million annually.

“Of course we want to raise revenue for the government. It doesn’t go to DAP.”

He said as minister, he would not sit on the committee that will vet applications for fully tinted windows. The committee will be headed by the Road Transport Department’s (RTD) director-general.

“I’m not giving myself power (as minister) to do this. It will be left to the committee. The director-general also cannot also decide to grant approval alone – he has to go through a process, and there must be minutes and records that applications have gone through the process.

“In the past, for a Tan Sri who has six cars, the minister with a stroke of the pen could approve. But I’m not out to polish the Tan Sri or take care of his happiness.

“I want to make sure that whoever wants (fully tinted windows) must at least pay certain amounts of money to the government,” he said.

Loke said the committee would filter applications and reject those who posed security risks. Applicants with a criminal record would be immediately rejected, he added.

On disagreements to the new rule from certain police officers, he said the regulations came under the Transport Ministry’s jurisdiction and, as such, the ministry was empowered to proceed with it.

However, he acknowledged police’s concerns and said he would ensure that RTD officers consult traffic police so that both units would be coordinated when conducting enforcement operations on motorists. – May 9, 2019.