ePlate: RFID Embedded Vehicle Registration Number Plate

Cars 2 – the evil twin lives on (2 July 2011)

http://www.thestar.com.my/story/?file=%2F2011%2F7%2F2%2Fnation%2F9016871

Due to the problems of cloned vehicles, ePlate implementation has been suggested.

Criminals will have a hard time once e-plate is reintroduced (4 July 2013)

http://english.astroawani.com/malaysia-news/criminals-will-have-hard-time-once-e-plate-reintroduced-17678

It seems like the problem of cloned vehicles will never abated if ePlate is not introduced.

Syndicate selling cloned vehicles busted (22 April 2015)

http://www.thestar.com.my/News/Nation/2015/04/22/Syndicate-selling-cloned-vehicles-busted-153-luxury-cars-amounting-to-RM13mil-seized/

ePlate proposal surfaced several years ago because a regular number plate is:

• too easy to fabricate hence easily forged to replace with another.
• non-conformity to regulations and specifications.
• fabricated using low quality materials hence broken easily or fallen off number/character.
• non-reflective hence difficult to recognize from afar.
• not adhering to the world best practices of national standardized number plate.

Therefore, ePlate is embedded with UHF RFID that enables the electronic identification of the vehicle. UHF tag in the ePlate be uniquely identified by a UHF reader to:

• Validate the vehicle identity.
• Monitor or control various events.

With MySikap and Automated Enforcement System, JPJ actually has the back bone infrastructure to implement ePlate.

However, ePlate proposal did not gain traction among the people due to several reasons:

• Currently, the price for a regular number plate is about RM25 (car) and RM10 (motorcycle) per piece. ePlate is much costlier because it is of higher quality and lasts longer.
• Most probably the RFID will expire first as RFID life span is only few years. Although the RFID tag is quite cheap, but people has to replace the entire ePlate despite that the plate itself is still in good condition.
• ePlate has to be custom made and cannot prefabricate because registration number can go to car (bigger character size) or motorcycle (smaller character size) and other reasons. Then it has to be riveted to the vehicle only by authorized personnel. Replacing the ePlate such as due to registration number interchange or damaged ePlate because of accident, will be very much a hassle.
• Driving with dysfunctional RFID will be illegal. People actually do not know whether their ePlate is still working or not.

Therefore of the Government still want to implement RFID tag, it is much wiser to embed RFID in road tax sticker as the sticker will expire in one year at longest. The RFID tag will still working perfectly within one year, and the cost to replace a road tax sticker is inexpensive.

From Manual to Online System

(Source: Google Images)

1. Said to increase integrity and efficiency, the Immigration Department contracted online foreign worker permit renewal to MyEG. However, there are numerous complaints on the system especially the additional fee imposed and longer time taken to process worker permit. Some of the grouses raised are:
   
   

MyEG gets permit job – and flak

http://www.thestar.com.my/News/Nation/2015/01/09/MyEG-gets-permit-job-and-flak-Employers-shocked-by-move-and-new-charge/

SMEs against use of online service to renew foreign worker permits (22 January 2015)

http://www.thestar.com.my/News/Nation/2015/01/22/SMEs-against-use-of-online-service-to-renew-foreign-worker-permits/

2. The Government said that there might be another service provider for foreign worker permit renewal in the future.
   
   

MyEG may see competition in online renewal of foreign workers' permits (8 April 2015)

http://www.thestar.com.my/Business/Business-News/2015/04/08/MyEG-may-see-competition-in-online-renewal-of-foreign-workers-permits/?style=biz

To reduce complaints, the Government has decided to absorb the additional fee but this move will see that Government collection will be reduced.

Cost of online renewal of foreign workers’ permits will be borne by Govt (24 April 2015)

http://www.thestar.com.my/News/Nation/2015/04/24/RM35-fee-for-MyEG-abolished-Cost-of-online-renewal-of-foreign-workers-permits-will-be-borne-by-Govt/

However, it was unclear whether that future service provider fee will also be borne by the Government.

3. The Government departments have come a long way from manual (counter service) to computerized (still over the counter) to online systems. To implement those systems, the buying in from the stakeholders involved is the most crucial. Take JPJ as example which has numerous online systems. Those vehicle manufacturer, insurance companies, banks and financial institutions, and many more can see the benefits of those systems to them and their customers. 
   
   
   
   
   
4. Those systems do not necessarily involve public money as most cost will be borne by the companies themselves. As benefits outweigh costs, the companies agreed to implement those systems. For example:
   
   

1. NIK and eDaftar

Vehicle manufacturers built their own system and dedicated line to JPJ. Small volume vehicle manufacturers who could not afford to build their own system must use their own chosen gateway provider.

2. eInsurans

The system was built by a three gateway providers who got the buying in from insurance companies. The transaction fee imposed by gateway providers to insurance companies is only 50 sen per transaction. 

3. eHakmilik

The system initially was built by financial institution association’s IT company. Its members agreed to use the system and transaction fee imposed is RM3 for motorcycle and RM5 for other vehicles. Later, non-member financial institutions also agreed to use the system.

5. The JPJ motivation to implement online systems is to obtain data from the original source. This is to:
   
   

• Eliminate human intervention and mistakes (JPJ does not have to key in data anymore)
• Control data manipulation and discretionary power (JPJ cannot amend data)
• Original sources must be responsible on all data sent to JPJ
• Guaranteed data integrity
  
  

6. Therefore, it was not wrong for Immigration Department to introduce online system to curb corruption and increase efficiency. Apart from service fee issue which somewhat settled (with reduced Government collection of course), contracting it without consulting stakeholders (in this case the employers or at least employers’ association) proved that it becomes less efficient (permit cannot be obtained immediately anymore) compared to previous system. It also makes Immigration Department officers feel irritated as if to accuse them of corrupt all this while, but how the management can be sure that MyEG staffs are all holy?

Register Your Vehicle

 

1. After waiting for our vehicle for many months, we want it to be registered as soon as possible. We will not blame the vehicle dealer for the months of waiting, but will blame JPJ even for one day delay in registering our vehicle. Therefore, JPJ has to come out with a complete environment of various online systems to make vehicle registration smoother and faster, while protecting the data integrity.
    
   
   
   

2. These various online systems are just to deal with a vehicle’s early life part. There are many more online systems that a vehicle has to deal with in its whole life cycle. Take the current best selling car (Perodua Axia) as an example of vehicle registration using these online systems:
   
   

1. NIK (Nombor Identifikasi Kenderaan – Vehicle Identification Number)
• Perodua as the car manufacturer will send NIK to JPJ to ensure that the Axia when going to be registered later is a genuine Axia manufactured by Perodua.
• Hence, buyer can rest assured that the Axia they bought is not a clone made by some Tom, Dick or Harry at their backyard.
• Note: For imported vehicles, the system is known as NIKi (Nombor Identifikasi Kenderaan Import).
  
  
2. eEksais

• Royal Malaysian Customs Department will send excise duty payment data to ensure that the Axia has already settled its tax.
• Hence, the Government will not be duped by fake customs’ forms anymore and losing millions in tax collection.
• Note: For imported vehicles, Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI) will also send approved permit data using eAP system.
  
  

3. eDaftar
• After a buyer confirmed to buy an Axia, Perodua sales dealer will send all car and owner data to JPJ through Perodua’s eDaftar system.
• Therefore, the use of paper form are eliminated and JPJ staffs will not have to key in back all those particulars contained in paper forms anymore.
  
  
4. eInsurans
• Insurance agent or insurance company will send the Axia’s insurance data with open date to JPJ to ensure that the Axia is covered by genuine insurance policy.
• There are three gateways which link all insurance companies to JPJ.
• Therefore, the use of physical insurance cover note is eliminated and JPJ staff will not have to key in back all those particulars contained in the cover note or verify dubious cover note with insurance companies anymore.
• Car owner will not be cheated by paying for fraudulent insurance which is not from insurance companies.
  
  
5. eHakmilik
• After the loan for the Axia has been approved, the bank will send ownership claim data to JPJ.
• There are two gateways which link all banks and financial institutions with JPJ.
• Therefore, JPJ will not have to key in and keep the physical ownership claim letter anymore. Furthermore later, ownership claim can be cancelled at any JPJ branch.
• Banks and financial institutions will not be cheated on ownership cancellation by faking the claim letter. 
  
  
6. ePuspakom

• If the Axia is going to be registered using an interchange registration number, Puspakom will send the other vehicle’s inspection data to JPJ.
• Hence, JPJ will not be duped by fake inspection certificate (usually of non-existent vehicle) and Puspakom will reduce the risk of losing fee collected.
• This system is also used for all types of inspection such as imported vehicles and transfer ownership inspections.
  
  

7. MySikap Registration System
• All above data will be matched automatically upon registration. JPJ will print registration card (grant) and vehicle licence (road tax) immediately.
  
  

3. Therefore, blame vehicle manufacturer/importer and its dealer if you receive your car late :)