THE Transport Ministry has no plans to bar cruise ships from entering the country due to the 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) outbreak.

Transport Minister Anthony Loke said the move will only be made if the Health Ministry made an evidence-based recommendation.

“We only bar Chinese citizens from the Hubei province or any region that the Chinese government has declared a lockdown.

“For any region which has been put on lockdown by the Chinese government, then we will bar the entry of Chinese citizens from that particular region,” he said after officiating the renewal service of motor vehicle licence (LKM) at the computerised vehicle inspection company Puspakom.

In the meantime, he said, the government has implemented all precautionary measures including health screening to check body temperature and health status of tourists at the country’s entry points.

Meanwhile, Loke, said his ministry has agreed to approve the implementation of the LKM renewal service at Puspakom, which will provide additional value to Puspakom customers and the general public.

“This is a government approach to facilitate the public in all matters relating to government services at the Road Transport Department (RTD). This additional service at Puspakom will make it easier for vehicle owners and operators to deal with LKM renewal,” he said.

He pointed out that Puspakom has been appointed as a government revenue agent in overseeing LKM renewal at 54 inspection centres nationwide.

He also said the initiative began with the renewal of LKM for light commercial vehicles with the maximum permissible laden weight at 7.5 tonnes and below and to be extended to other vehicle categories in the future.

Apart from vehicle inspections, Puspakom also offers insurance renewal services since 2018 via its one-stop centre concept to facilitate the public in matters pertaining to vehicle ownership. – Bernama, February 7, 2020.