Record number of new cars registered in 2008

THE Land Transport Department has registered an increase of 21,224 new vehicles last year, the highest ever recorded, while over 42,000 cars have not renewed road tax in the past three years, its acting director said yesterday.

About 37,091 of the cars which did not pay road tax are privately owned, while 5,064 are commercial or under a company's name, said Mohammad Riza Dato Paduka Hj Mohammad Yunos.

"With these findings the Department of Land Transport will take appropriate action through legislation as well as take back their registration numbers to make it available for the public," he said during the launching of the new Land Transport Information System at the Ministry of Communications.

The acting director said that in the past two decades, beginning from 1990, the department has recorded a total of 325,872 registered vehicles, where only 173,606 were recorded as active.

With the introduction of the new Land Transport Information System, he said that the department will be able to improve their existing services in controlling such vehicles.

The benefits of the new system include an increased efficiency in issuance of licences and documents such as driver's licence and vehicle registration books.

It will also provide a centralised database for accurate and updated vehicle and drivers records, as well as assist traffic law and enforcement for instant online inquiry. Furthermore, the new system promises to minimise forgery and fraud, as well as increase efficiency in processing application permits.

"This project is a way for us to support the e-government initiative through a web-based and open architecture system which will enable more efficient interaction between the Land Transport Department, its staff and with stakeholders electronically."

He further said that the system aimed to create a paperless environment and a "front-end environment" which will eliminate long lines for vehicle-related submissions such as vehicle registrations as individuals can now submit such applications via the internet by logging on to www.pengangkutan-darat.com.

The new system is also the first nationwide Business-to-Government (B2G) e-government system in the country, collaborating with relevant government agencies and key industry representatives such as motor agencies, insurance companies and financial institutions. It provides integration of activities and links the entire nation on all land transport matters.

Costing about $8 million, the system consolidates the current different systems into one single platform, providing centralised information for accurate and updated vehicle records.

The system will also connect the Land Transport Department's operation in Kuala Belait, Tutong and Temburong with the headquarters. Development for the system first began On January 3, 2006.

The Brunei Times