PENANG: A total of 1.02 million new vehicles were registered last year, making it an all-time high for the Road Transport Department (JPJ) and the first time it breached the million figure mark.

Director-general Datuk Emran Kadir said it was a sign that the country’s economy was strong and that an increasing number of people could afford to buy new vehicles.

He said about 55% of the new registrations were cars, adding that the JPJ would disclose the full breakdown on Feb 28.

Emran said while the country had the infrastructure to cope with the high volume of vehicles, road users were advised to be careful and observe traffic rules at all times.

He was speaking at the JPJ Bersama Rakyat Warga Emas licence presentation at the Teluk Bahang community hall yesterday. At the gathering, Emran presented Class B2 (motorcycle) licences to 270 senior citizens.

Under this JPJ programme, senior citizens without driving licences are allowed to sit for their exams orally instead of doing it on a computer.

Source: http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2006/2/19/nation/13442243&sec=nation