Tow trucks need permission to operate on Plus highways

[jeffooi]

NEW STRAITS TIMES
Thursday, October 31, 2002

<font size="+1">Tow trucks need permission to operate on Plus highways</font>
Hamidah Atan

NILAI, Oct 31: With immediate effect, tow truck operators must obtain
approval from Projek Lebuhraya Utara-Selatan (Plus) before they can operate
on highways in cases of accidents or car breakdowns.

Works Minister Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu said his ministry had received
numerous complaints from motorists about tow truck operators.

"With immediate effect, they must get a written approval from Plus before
they can operate on the highways."

He said not all tow truck operators should be allowed to operate on the
roads to their whims.

"We must control the number (that can operate on the highways). Plus can
appoint at least two or three companies to deal with accidents or breakdowns
on its stretches."

Samy Vellu added that the complaints received included slippery roads due to
the existence of petrol. "All this, Plus should investigate to make our
highways safe for motorists."

Samy Vellu said Plus could act against operators who did not comply with the
directive. "At least, through this, we will know the number of tow trucks on
our highways and their activities.

"We will also be able to know whether the cases (accidents) are coincident
or otherwise."


Read the full story at:
http://www.emedia.com.my/Current_News/NST/Thursday/NewsBreak/20021031140314/Article/

[jeffooi]

THE STAR
Tuesday, November 05, 2002

Workshops unhappy over ban

THE Federation of Motor Cars Repair Workshops Associations has criticised the Works Ministry for disallowing private tow-trucks from operating on the highways, saying the ban is impractical and unreasonable.

Interviewed by Nanyang Siang Pau, federation chairman Choo Chee Seng urged Works Minister Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu to withdraw the ruling in the interest of motorists and operators.

Choo said that the speedy arrival of private tow-trucks at the scenes of accidents at highways, usually within minutes, had unfortunately led the minister to believe the accidents were created by the tow-truck operators.

The allegations were untrue and not fair to them, he said.

“On receiving information, the tow-truck operators rush to the scene not only to do business but also to attend to the injured,’’ he said.

The over 1,000 tow trucks owned by the federation members could provide a much more efficient service than that of the highway companies, he was quoting as saying.


FULL STORY:
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2002/11/5/focus/truck&sec=focus