Recently, a local business daily quoting a report from the Straits Times, a mainstream media in Singapore, reported that Zetrix AI Bhd (formerly known as MyEg Bhd) owes the government over RM200 million as the digital services firm failed to remit the money collected from its customers.
The money was confirmed due by the Road Transport Department which Zetrix AI collected for the renewal of vehicle road tax, driving licences and traffic summonses from the very start of its three-year contract in May 2023.
MyEG was originally awarded its e-government concession by the Malaysian government in 2000, under which it initiated its long-running electronic delivery services and collections for the Road Transport Department (JPJ).
The concession was historically renewed multiple times, with the latest renewal, a three-year contract extension running from May 23, 2023, to May 22, 2026.
For the latest renewal, the Transport Minister made it a "non-exclusive" concession agreement, opening the gateway for alternative platforms (such as the official MyJPJ application) to handle digital road tax and licence renewals.
Following the revelation by the business weekly, in a knee jerk reaction, the Road Transport Department (JPJ) officially announced the suspension of MyEG Group (and its blockchain entity Zetrix AI Bhd) as its collection agent effective October 5, 2026.
Was the government's swift suspension of their services demonstrate an enforcement of accountability rather than a failure of it?
Enforcing a penalty after a major breach occurs does not undo the systemic oversight failure that allowed the issue to develop.
The fact that outstanding collections reached over RM200 million indicates a long-term failure in the ministry's monitoring mechanisms.
Under the principle of ministerial responsibility, a minister is expected to answer for significant failures within their department, regardless of whether they were personally involved in the day-to-day operations.
Therefore, taking action now is seen as a necessary corrective measure, but not a substitute for answering for the regulatory lapse itself.
The ministry's leadership must fully answer and take responsibility for the oversight gaps that preceded the suspension.
A failure in internal monitoring systems that allowed such a large sum to remain uncollected reflects a gap in ministerial oversight.
The Minister should ensure strict mechanisms are in place to prevent revenue leakages before they escalate to this magnitude.
Even though the companies appointed by the Transport Ministry to undertake and provide motor vehicle inspection services and inspection for private vehicle ownership transfers would not be performing the same tasks and duties as Zetrix AI Bhd, all eyes no doubt will be centred on the three new companies that will be providing motor vehicle inspection services in addition to Puspakom and the 6 companies licensed to undertake inspection for private vehicle ownership transfers (MV15).
According to a business daily, Zetrix AI faces extreme financial distress, regulatory suspensions, and massive share selloffs, making it an exceptionally high-risk and compromised asset.
In the event the company faced further financial trouble, the likelihood of them paying the government for the amount owed by them to the government could be in serious jeopardy.
The public is now asking would Anthony Loke take responsibility?
For the matter of the pardon for PM6, he willingly offered to resign only to make the resignation conditional after a lapse of 2 weeks after he announced it.
For this, tax payers monies are involved and it involved his Ministry.
Is he going to tender his resignation or he would resign subject to……bla bla bla bla.
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