Malaysia to Regulate Regrooved Tyre Imports

Malaysia’s national news agency reports that as of next year permits will be required for the importation of regrooved tyres. According to Bernama, Deputy Transport minister Datuk Abdul Rahim Bakri said this change was occurring to ensure imported regrooved tyres were safe for use in Malaysia. "The ministry has made new legal provisions for motor vehicles which will be gazetted and implemented in 2010 to control the entry of regrooved tyres from other countries," he said.

According to Abdul Rahim, industry feedback indicates that an estimated that 200,000 to 300,000 (three to five per cent) of Malaysia’s road users use regrooved tyres. “Most of these regrooved tyres are used by commercial vehicles in the rural or off-road areas,” he commented.

“We are aware of the situation and are monitoring it. We also see this industry as one that contributes to the country’s road safety problem,” the Deputy Transport Minister added.