Driving schools allowed to operate from Sept 9

Motor vehicle driving institutes (ILP) nationwide are allowed to operate from Sept 9 under the National Recovery Plan (NRP) by appointment, Transport Minister Wee Ka Siong says.

But while ILPs will be permitted to operate from Sept 9, the examination process to obtain driving licences will only begin on Sept 17, he said.

“This is to allow the driving institutes and the Road Transport Department (JPJ) to manage any arising issues that the candidates may face,” he said in a statement.

Wee said the permission as given by the National Security Council (MKN) was subject to full adherence to the SOPs under the NRP.

He said the employees, teaching staff and candidates must be fully vaccinated, verifiable with Covid-19 digital vaccination certificates and identification cards.

Wee said driving institutes are permitted to operate based on the percentage of employees that have been vaccinated.

“If 40% of an ILP’s employees have been vaccinated, it may operate at 60% of the current staffing. If 60% have been vaccinated, it may operate with 80% of its staff.

“An ILP may operate with 100% staffing if 80% of its staff have been vaccinated.

“Staff or candidates with symptoms, persons residing in enhanced movement control order areas, persons under surveillance, and persons under quarantine are not allowed to come to the ILP.

“All staff and candidates must comply with the health protocols stipulated by the health ministry and new norms such as the checking of body temperature, checking in with MySejahtera, maintaining physical distancing, wearing a face mask and using hand sanitiser,” he added.

In understanding and acknowledging the difficulties faced by ILPs during the Covid-19 pandemic, Wee said the transport ministry would grant a three-month moratorium until Nov 30 on the renewal of ILP operators’ permits that expired between January and September this year.

“As the driving institutes begin to operate once again, we hope that this decision will bring relief to the operators, teaching staff and the public that need their services,” he said, adding however that any violation of the associated SOPs could result in action taken under the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act 1988 (Act 342).