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PUTRAJAYA – The government’s decision to suspend MYEG Sdn Bhd and Zetrix AI Bhd’s road tax and driving licence payment services was based on more than RM300 million in outstanding government revenue, and not political considerations.
Transport Minister Anthony Loke also rejected calls on social media for him to resign over the suspension, stressing that responsibility for the unpaid revenue rested with the companies involved.
“The company did not pay, yet the minister is the one being asked to take action. What kind of logic is this?” he said at a press conference here on Monday.
Loke said the decision by the Transport Ministry (MOT) and Road Transport Department (JPJ) was based on outstanding government revenue and compliance with contractual obligations.
“I am also puzzled. They quickly asked me to resign. The company did not pay!” he said.
Last Friday, JPJ director-general Datuk Aedy Fadly Ramli said MYEG and Zetrix AI were suspended effective Oct 5 after the authorities took into consideration compliance with the terms and conditions of their agreements, as well as outstanding obligations that had yet to be fulfilled or settled.
Loke said the government did not take into consideration the companies’ management or ownership links to any political party when deciding to take action.
“Whoever they are affiliated with, that is not relevant to me. The fact is that there are outstanding payments.
“There are outstanding payments that should have been an obligation to the government that were not fulfilled, and action needs to be taken,” he said.
MOT had previously said total claims against the companies amounted to RM314 million between May 19 and Sept 30, involving government revenue collected but not transferred to the main receipts account of MOT’s Accounting Office.
Loke said the government had given the companies opportunities to settle the outstanding amount, including issuing 35 reminder notices and holding four engagement sessions with stakeholders.
However, he said the suspension became necessary after a cheque worth RM231 million submitted by the company was not processed by the bank following instructions from the company after it was credited on Sept 30.
“So we had no choice. There is no reason that can be given by the company. This is a responsibility and obligation.
“They are only tax collection agents. This is not their money. This is the money of taxpayers or licence payers that they collect on behalf of JPJ,” he said.
Loke said the services would only be considered for reopening once the entire outstanding amount had been settled.
He also confirmed that the government had a clause allowing it to terminate the contract and would not be required to pay compensation if the contract was terminated.
“They owe us more than RM300 million now. So there is no question of compensation to them,” he said.
