Unlike other types of businesses around, the driving school or institute industry is strictly controlled by the Road Transport Department or the JPJ (Jabatan Pengangkutan Jalan).

Like a school teacher, who aspires to become a headmaster or principal one fine day, an instructor, I am very certain, possesses high aspirations that eventually, he will be able to start an institute of his own.

The above feeling or ambition was embedded in my close friend and buddy, a Mr. Chin, 69. For readers’ information, the said Mr. Chin, has been involved in the driving school business for around 45 years or so. I have written an elaborate article on the above personality in one of my earlier blog post.

Mr. Chin is a very experienced driving instructor in the Klang district locality. Chin, was formerly the President of the Klang Pool Car Association way back in the 1960’s and 70’s. He is currently still running the Sentosa Driving School in Berkeley Housing Estate. Even after more than 45 years in the driving school arena, Mr. Chin still has quite a lot of students seeking out his services to secure driving and riding license.

No too long ago, Mr. Chin and I went to Putrajaya where the Road Transport Department headquarters is located. Our mission to the above department was none other than to secure the forms necessary to open up an institute.

But quite some time has elapsed since we left the premises of the Road Transport Department in Putrajaya. Why has there been a lapse of quite a few months? Have my friend and I finally decided to give up our aspirations or intentions?

As a matter of fact, we have not. The desire to build or set up an institute, especially in the vicinity of Taman Sentosa or Sentosa Housing Estate in nearby Klang, still burns strong and steady. One should not forget that Mr. Chin operates a driving school in Berkeley Housing known as “Sentosa Driving School”.

Call it coincidence, if you wish, but to me, it is as if destiny has been pre planned in such a way that one day, the Sentosa Driving Institute was destined to be started there. Whether the destiny will come to pass or otherwise, is yet left to be seen.

I have always provided the encouragement for my buddy, Mr. Chin to build his institute in or around the vicinity of Taman Sentosa, Klang. The housing estate of Sentosa was started some 20 or 25 years ago. Taman Sentosa has today grown up into becoming a busy and bustling township.

From being a small and unknown small place, the town is today filled with lots of cars and motorcycles. In fact, during most times of the day, the roads are usually jammed up with traffic. Shops, supermarkets, banks, restaurants fast food joints such as Pizza Hut and KFC outlets dot this busy and bustling township.

I’m not aware about the population of Taman Sentosa. But believe me, this town possesses one of the best possibilities of setting up a driving institute to cater for the population here.

The youngsters of this housing estate, has infact all grown up. They are now ready to apply for a license. The youngsters are now 16 to 17 years old. They are now old enough to learn “driving”, so to say. In short, the “market” is now there.

To set up an institute is not a simple matter as some people think. A few criteria has to be taken into careful consideration. This article will therefore delve into the various reasons which support the setting up of a large institute in Taman Sentosa.

What must an entrepreneur who wants to set up a driving institute possess?

1) The experience to run a driving institute.

Not everyone can set up a driving institute or academy. First and foremost, a person should possess the expertise and experience to run it. Do you think a person who has an experience of 45 or so years of being involved in the driving school industry, has enough expertise to handle an institute? If you ask me, I will definitely say “yes”!

That is how I felt when I heard that my friend and buddy made known his intention to set up on institute. It should also be made known that my friend’s co-partner in his driving school business, a Mr. R, has also as much experience as my friend, Chin.

Without a doubt, Mr. R, who hails from Shah Alam, Selangor will be joining him in his venture to set up a driving institute when the time comes. So much for the question of “experience”. And how, let’s move on to other important factors as well.

2) Investment capital.

One should also possess the capital or capability to set up a driving institute. Intending to set up a driving institute these days take a lot of money. It’s not like “building castles in the air”, so they say.

After being involved in the driving school area for more than 45 years, it is believed that my friend, Mr. Chin, must surely have made quite some money. How much he has in his bank account, I’m unaware. Such personal things I feel, are beyond my domains to know.

Furthermore, Mr. Chin also tells me he has a brother in-law, in Kuala Lumpur, who is well to do. Money, therefore is not a problem at all. Besides this, “capital” to set up the institute, can be obtained from fellow instructors from a close nearby driving institute.

Words have it, that the majority of institute’s instructors aren’t too happy about how things are run there. And they have promised Mr. Chin that they are willing to invest at least RM50,000 each just to get away from unsatisfactory and unfair working conditioning at the institute where they are presently attached to.

3) Having a driving school permit.

To possess a driving school permit would be of some assistance or help. It is believed that a person trying to attempt to set up a driving institute these days stands a better chance of success than someone who hasn’t got a driving school permit at all. It’s believed to speed up things.

A driving school permit, which my friend currently possesses can easily be converted into a driving institute permit. For example, the institute to which this writer is currently attached, once upon a time belonged to a certain Chinese association in Kuala Lumpur.

A group of Chinese driving school instructors got together and they successfully managed to convert it into a driving institute entity. Therefore I am of the opinion that the driving school permit under “Sentosa driving School” enterprise, should encounter no problem at all when the time comes for it to be changed into a driving institute.

4) Getting Instructors with S.M.2 teaching permits to cross over to the new institute.

The problem above, as a matter of fact, should not arise at all. If a person like Mr. Chin, who is not only well known in the driving school arena, as well as the Road Transport Department, should have little problem over the question of changing or transferring of S.M.2 (Sijil Mengajar) from one institute to another. Anyway, the above remains a belief of mine only.

For all one knows, the new institute which is to be set up, might face some difficulties in getting teaching permits transferred from one institute to another. As the saying goes, “anything can happen”. It’s all left to be seen.

5) Transferring of certificates.

Getting current institute driving institutes vehicles which has S.M.3 (Sek Memandu 3) certificates transferred from one institute to another. If previously, this might represent a major problem, what the Road Transport department said a few days ago seems to have brought some cheer to those intending to set up driving institutes in the not too distant future.

The R.T.D. has announced that vehicles, from on, can be used indefinitely. However, these vehicles, including those used by the driving school industry, should undergo yearly PUSPAKOM inspections. As a result, there is no necessity for driving school or institute cars to be changed so often as previously required.

The above are but some of the important factors which should be taken into account if one intends to set up or open an institute. In fact, there exists other important and pertinent factors which should be dealt with as well. But I am afraid that if more and more factors are touched upon, this would probably bore readers. Therefore it’s best that this article is brought to its end here so as to avoid anybody getting displeased.

But prior to bringing this article to its end, there is one other important thing that should be discussed and that is the problem or question of “land”.

6) The availability of land to run an institute.

Financial capability, instructors with the necessary teaching certificates, vehicles and relevant personnel to run courses, perform pre exams and experience, are all important aspect that are required to set up a new driving institute, but nothing is more important than the question of “land” itself.

Pertaining to this aspect, Mr. Chin and I went to survey a piece of land in nearby Kampung Jawa, near Sri Muda Housing Estate. This piece of 5 acre land is located very close to a current, large driving institute nearby. To buy a piece of land these days will incur at least 3 million.

The next alternative therefore, is to rent it for the time being. Later on, if the institute should do well and is lucky enough the prospect of buying up the land will then be opened for further discussion. I await patiently for the Sentosa Driving Institute to be set up in the very near future. It’s a dream but then dreams are known to have come to pass quite often.

Cars which belong to the driving schools or institutes undergo a 6 months compulsory inspection by the PUSPAKOM authorities. New cars, less than a year or two old, are inspected once a year.

The Road Transport Authorities has not conducted a “spot check” on most driving institutes, although they began operations some 10 years ago. On 27th of July 2010, the institute to which I am currently attached, was scheduled to undergo a “pemantauan” or spot check by the authorities.

All driving instructors and their vehicles were requested by the management to report to the institute by 8.00 a.m. the morning of 27th July, 2010. Amongst other things, V.E.s or “vehicle experts” from the state department were at our premises to conduct the “spot checks” above.

In this article, I will list down many of the things, most cars were reported to have contravened. Although no summons were issued, the above vehicles were cited for various offences. Out of a total of nearly 70 – 80 vehicles the institute owned, 36 of them were cited for various offences. Those offences will have been repaired. The vehicles will then have to be sent for another inspection by the J.P.J.

Would you believe that all of the institute’s new vehicles made up of Kancils, were pulled up for some faults or other in this exercise conducted recently?

A total of nearly 12 -15 of our vehicles were involved. It may sound surprising, but it is true. Before talking about other vehicles of the institute, which were similarly pulled up for offences, let us first talk about cars of the institute itself. The the above cars were used during “test days” for the Part III (Road Test) of the practical test which a candidate has to undergo.

The institute, due to wrong advices given to the management, had decided to remove the Kancil’s rear screen wipers. All the Kancils were without such wipers when they were inspected. According to the authorities, all commercial vehicles used by institutes for conducting business, must be completely equipped.

The above vehicles were cited as being incomplete. Our vehicles will be given 2 weeks to have the wipers fixed. The vehicles will have to be sent in for a special inspection by the J.P.J. authorities later.

Below, I will list 6 items which of my colleagues faced in the recent “pemantuan” exercise.

1. Excessive steering free play.

Excessive free play of the steering is dangerous. Students especially, will find it difficult to control the steering well. Instructors should see to it, that steering free play more than half an inch either way, should be rectified immediately.

2. Horns which are too weak or non-audible.

Car horns should be loud and clear when applied. Horns are an important item of a car. Most Kancil cars do not seem to have horns which are very audible. They are infact not loud enough when applied. A car, whose horns are not loud enough, will not please the vehicle experts who are testing the car. You will be cited for possessing weak horns during an examination.

3. Air con unit not cool enough.

Malaysia is reputed to possess very hot temperatures. In today’s condition, to be learning in a non air-con car is indeed unbearable. Instructors should see to it that the air con condition of the car, which is used to tutor a student in driving, should have a good air conditioning unit. This will provide the student a conductive learning atmosphere.

4. Signages of driving school/institute not following requirements.

Some instructors do not seem to adhere to the departments’ rules and regulations. Some make these signages of their own, when their old signages become worn out. They should in fact get new signages from the establishment. Sometimes, it has been found that even L plates differ from the standard Ls approved by the authorities.

5. Poor brakes found in many institute’s vehicle.

Many units of our institute’s vehicles, when tested, were found to have braking systems which are not satisfactory. Vehicles with poor brakes, were immediately summoned. Owners of such vehicles will have to get their brakes repaired before it is sent to the authorities for the next inspection.

6. Paintwork or body work of vehicles not in satisfactory condition.

Some vehicles have dented body work and broken fenders, signals and lamps. After some time, the paintwork of the vehicles have faded. Such vehicles need a new coat of paint. Conditions of such cars need to be repaired before it is brought in to the authorities for another round of inspection. The inspection was scheduled for the 10th of August, 2010.

The above are 6 things the authorities found “wrong” with our institute’s cars in the spot check exercise conducted way back in 27th of July 2010. On the whole, the authorities should conduct more of such tests. They are good for the welfare of the institutes.

Our institute was started way back in 1999. It has been a long time since. From a modest, driving institute with only approximately 30 – 40 driving instructors then, today we have near to 70 – 80 instructors. Proud to say, most instructors have the certificate to teach, the S.M.2., as required by the authorities concerned.

In the years that we have been operating as an institute, the authorities have never conducted a “spot check” or “pemantauan” on us as yet. I remember, on the 27th July 2010, we were subjected to such an exercise.

The above exercise, besides checking on us, was intended as being fostering better relations between the two parties. As a matter of fact, the scrutinity that was to be made by the authorities was good for the welfare of the institute as a whole. Why should this be so?

The institute, to which I am attached to, was to be inspected, was suddenly spruced up by the management concerned. First of all, the institute’s premises and its limited number of roads and parking facilities, were attended to immediately. Parking poles were repainted.

Of course, roads, which were normally riddled with pot holes and small craters, were patched up. An Indian contractor and a few workers were engaged to do the above job. They spent more than half a day at our institute repairing and patching up the entire institute recently. The institute’s premises were trimmed meticulously. Green trees and flowers grown around our institute, to provide shades and to beautify the surroundings, were attended to.

Rubbish and other things that required attention, were accorded the attention that was never given to them previously. For the good of the institute, the authorities, should conduct more of such observations on our institute and other driving institutes more often.

Even, the Deputy Director, who graciously came along to officiate the “pemantauan” exercise, was surprised, that our toilet facilities that particular day, was spick and span.

In his short speech to some 70 – 80 driving instructors and personnel of the institute, the director jokingly reiterated that there were times when he need to use its toilet facilities, had discovered the above facilities in dire, appalling conditions, much to his chagrin. He reminded the institute’s establishment to always remember to keep our toilet facilities clean.

The “pemantauan” programme began at 9.00 a.m. sharp. No fewer than 15 officers from the department arrived at our institute’s premises in 3 or 4 department’s familiar, blue coloured vehicles. After preliminary introductions, the Deputy Director and his team of high ranking officers, were treated to a hearty, traditional Malay breakfast which comprised of nasi lemak and kuih-muih or Malay cakes. As instructors and department’s officers had their breakfast, their conversation continued.

After breakfast, participants gathered in one of the bigger lecture halls, usually meant for Kursus Pendidikan Pemandu (KPP), and the “pemantauan” exercise thus began.

After the Deputy Director’s short speech, a few high ranking officers took over the floor. A lady officer emphasized upon the filling up of Borang 4. It was discovered, that our institute, had all along, filled this form incorrectly and not according to departments’ requirements. In future, the lady officer insisted, this anomaly had to be rectified.

With this “pemantauan” exercise, the Department’s visit to our institute, had also intended to gauge or determine the standard of our institute’s instructors. With this in mind, instructors were thus divided into various teams for cars, lorry and motorcycle tests, which the department’s testers would conduct.

Instructors were given the opportunity to do a few rounds of practices before the real tests began. Like students, instructors were only humans. Without a doubt, some instructors failed to go up the slopes as required, much to the glee of other compatriots around.

While the tests continued, another set of department’s officials, or V.E. or better known as “vehicle experts”, then carried out their expert knowledge upon our 100 vehicles, such as cars, lorries and motorcycles, used for learning or for testing candidates.

Pertaining to cars, all of which use the Kancil 660 c.c, the institute has infact more than 100 or so such cars. These cars were all lined up in rows of 5 or 6 cars at the back of our institute. V.E.s took some 2 hours or so to test all the vehicles, both old and new driving around the entire institute’s premises, going up slopes and down it as brakes and gears were tested rigidly.

Finally, these vehicles were driven into garages, where another group tested the vehicles air-con system, the horn and lights system, steering free play, engine conditions, company’s logo signage, the display of L signs, which are all vitally necessary for a driving school vehicle.

I will accord a few articles in the future to deal with what our vehicles were pulled up for or faulted for. This is important as in future “pemantauan”, instructors as well as the institute’s establishment, will known what to expect from the department’s future observations.

However, to be frank, it is not possible to highlight all the weakness and faults of each and every vehicle. But rest assured, the major faults will surely be highlighted for the benefit of most of our instructors.

The “pemantauan” exercise finally ended with the gathering of everyone once again in the lecture room. The officer in charge gave us a report of the day’s findings and testing of all our vehicles. After entertaining a few questions from participants, the exercise finally ended and all the participants and officers from the department were afterwards entertained to a good hearty lunch prepared by the institute.

In my opinion, the “pemantauan” exercise was well organized and what is more important, is that it was beneficial to all parties concerned. Surprisingly, it was well attended by driving instructors of the institute as a whole.