Higher Cost for Driving Lessons with New RTD Curriculum

Source: The Star 30 May 2010

TAPAH: Road Transport Department (RTD) director-general Datuk Solah Mat Hassan did not rule out the possibility of learner drivers having to pay a higher fee for their driving lessons with the implementation of a new driving curriculum end of the year.

He said the new driving curriculum, which would be more comprehensive to produce better quality drivers, was in the final stage of getting the approval from the Transport Ministry.

The increase might trigger public protest but the cost of obtaining a driving licence in Malaysia was still the lowest,” he told reporters after closing the "One Community One RTD" programme here Sunday.

He said this in response to a statement by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak Saturday that RTD would introduce a new curriculum towards producing competent, law-abiding and prudent drivers.

Solah said the new curriculum would encompass, among others, longer sessions of driving lessons. The driving lessons would also depend on the type of car, whether manual or automatic, preferred by learner drivers, he added.

He said new drivers with the "P" (probation) licence would also have to sit for a special test to be issued with the Competent Driving Licence (CDL). The CDL licence would not be issued to them automatically as was the current practice, he added.

He said improvements would also be made in the issuing of the Public Service Vehicle (PSV) vocational licence and the Goods Vehicle Driving License (GDL). - Bernama