PETALING JAYA, July 11 — The Road Transport Department’s (JPJ) smart application for smoother operations at its branches has many advantages, but there is one snag – many are still unaware of it.
Many customers who turned up at the JPJ branch office here said they did not know about the smart application, which has to be downloaded and activated on their mobile phones.
In April last year, the JPJ started using a mobile app called JPJeQ to keep touts away and cut down on waiting time.
In order to get a ticket at the JPJ offices concerned, one has to scan the QR code displayed outside before a ticket number is given for the specific service request.
After scanning the QR code at the door, people would be asked what service they needed. They would then be given a number in line.
The app enables the user to see his or her current position in the queue and the expected waiting period to be served at the counter.
A notification would be sent to the users’ smartphones when their turn comes.
Several motorists at the JPJ branch here said they were caught unawares and had to struggle to download the mobile app and learn how to use it instantly.
Mechanic Nazzarudin Jamal, 43, said he was surprised when he found out about the mobile app when he arrived to make a vehicle ownership transfer.
“I went to the entrance and saw a lot of people busy with their handphones, trying hard to scan a QR code.
“Some were facing connectivity problems with their handphones and had to make many attempts to download the app,” he said.
Despite what he described as the “sudden inconvenience”, Nazzarudin said the mobile app feature would help deter touts who were usually outside to take advantage of the packed situation.
“I had an experience when I had to pay RM5 for a queue number because I was in a rush and there were so many people.
“With the new application, it would eliminate this tout problem. Touts have been profiting from people’s desperation,” he added.
Nazzarudin urged the JPJ to publicise the implementation of the smart app so that the public could download the app earlier and familiarise themselves with it.
Another person, who only wanted to be known as Michael, 50, supported the implementation of the JPJeQ system, which he said was useful.
“The new system is good as it is quicker, but one needs time to get used to it. Under the old system, we had to queue at the counter for a long time just to get a number,” he said.
Housewife Nurshariza Mohmad Samiri, 40, who came to renew her driving licence and conduct a vehicle ownership transfer, said the app queue system saved her a lot of time.
“I have used the app before in Ipoh, where I was guided on how to use it by an officer. But I noticed that there were no officers helping the public in the Petaling Jaya branch. Some senior citizens were struggling to download the app,” she said.
A 50-year-old man who only wished to be known as Tan said he had difficulty downloading the app to his device.
He said he had to wait for some time as the Internet connection was slow and no WiFi was available.
“I came here to renew the road tax for my lorry and it was my first time using the app. I was clueless until a gentleman came to help me,” he said, adding that a stable WiFi network should also be installed for public use at the JPJ office.
Even though the smart app system is being used, 43-year-old ehailing driver Ho Sung En suggested that the manual queue number be kept.
“Not everyone is tech-savvy. The younger ones might be better at it,” he said.
The JPJeQ app is available on both Google Playstore for Android devices and Apple AppStore for iOS users.
