20 June 2019

Press Statement by MCA Youth Secretary-General Daniel Wa Wai How

Poor coordination on tinted window policy incurs financial losses on the people

Once again, Pakatan Harapan has demonstrated how prevalent the silo mentality is within the coalition. Ministries have failed to coordinate together, and even showed signs of constantly trying to one-up each other.

The Transport Ministry first launched a new policy to allow for darker vehicle windows tinting a month ago. It wasn’t until now did the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry (KPDNHEP) introduce an additional set of guidelines on tinting standards.

This places businesses which had already stocked up on tinting films and motorists who had installed theirs in a tricky spot — they are caught between a rock and a hard place.

It is becoming increasingly commonplace in Pakatan Harapan where each Ministry makes separate announcements on one single matter, whereby the statements of these Ministers contradicted one another. Their tendency to run off at the mouth has transformed into something more than inconveniences for people and local businesses.

On May 7th, 2019,  Transport Minister Anthony Loke announced that vehicles are allowed to have 70% tinted front windshields and 50% tinted front side windows, as well as the removal of the limit on how much rear windows can be darkened. There was no mention of how another Ministry would enforce another set of guidelines.

In his haste to squeeze some publicity, Anthony Loke neglected to properly coordinate with his KDPNHEP counterpart. Two days later on May 9th, 2019, he further stressed that there would be no U-turns on this policy. By virtue of his reassurance, many motorists and automotive customisation dealers have rapidly replaced their existing tinting films and ordered new stocks respectively.

Then, unexpectedly on June 19th, 2019, Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Dato’ Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail declared that the new guidelines for vehicle windows tinting will take effect starting today, allowing a grace period of one year for dealers to comply.

The new guidelines, to be enforced fully by July next year, specify that tinting films must acquire certification from Sirim Bhd and meet Malaysian Standard MS2669: 2017. Anthony Loke had raised no such things previously.

Daniel Wa Wai How

MCA Youth Secretary-General

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