Global Biz
Malaysia: Import permit needed for regrooved tires
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-12-09 16:46
KUALA LUMPUR: Permits are required for the import of regrooved tires in Malaysia starting from 2010, a Malaysian official said here on Wednesday.
This was to ensure that the imported regrooved tires were safe for use in the country, Malaysian Deputy Transport Minister Abdul Rahim Bakri told Malaysia's Parliament.
Abdul Rahim said that the imported regrooved tires were sold at 20 to 30 ringgit ($5.71 to $8.57) each, luring demand from the low-income group.
However, Abdul Rahim said the Malaysian government wanted to control the entry of such tires because the industry contributed to the road safety issues in Malaysia.
Abdul Rahim said that feedback from the tire industry showed that 200,000 to 300,000 or three to five percent road users used regrooved tires, with most of them being commercial vehicle or rural drivers.
He also pointed out that 70 cases of road accidents involving 21 deaths in 2007 and 15 cases with two deaths in 2008 were due to the bald, old or worn-out tires used on the vehicles.
