Puspakom said the closure would allow the road transport department (JPJ) to set up a new facility at the same site.

Puspakom CEO Mahmood Razak Bahman said the company would extend the operating hours of several branches around Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, and Negeri Sembilan in view of the closure.

He added that Wangsa Maju Puspakom checked about 800 vehicles a day, making it one of its busiest branches.

“Although this early closure of the Wangsa Maju branch causes new problems, we concede to (the transport ministry’s directive),” he said in a statement.

Mahmood added that JPJ had approved Puspakom’s application for a new branch in Bukit Beruntung, Rawang, slated for completion in December.

Last month, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission arrested eight people, including six vehicle inspection officers, in connection with a case involving heavy vehicle inspections at a Kuala Lumpur Puspakom centre.

JPJ also conducted a surprise inspection at the Wangsa Maju Puspakom centre on Dec 30 and uncovered an unsafe vehicle that had passed inspection.

It recorded statements from staff members at the branch who were believed to have approved unsafe vehicles.