He said the government should be strict with fleet renewal for taxis so that the vehicles in service are well maintained, and to ensure that passengers would not have to sit through regular breakdowns.

“The average mileage per year for an ordinary car is 20,000km. A taxi runs three times higher so, after 10 years, it would easily clock up 600,000km.

“A 15-year-old taxi would cost more to maintain and insure. Safety and comfort must be the priority,” he told FMT.

Rosli’s remarks were in response to the decision by the Land Public Transport Agency (Apad), which said the 15-year age limit would apply to all e-hailing vehicles, and to taxis in West Malaysia that are 10 years old as of Jan 1.

The age limit for taxis in Sabah is currently set at 20 years, while in Sarawak it is 18 years.

Public Transport Users Association president Ajit Johl called for ride-share companies and providers to include the age of the vehicles when users make a booking. “If passengers do not want a 15-year-old car, they should have the option,” he said.

He said the requirement for Puspakom inspections would ensure that safety standards were not compromised.

The secretary-general of the Malaysia Consumers Movement, Sukhdave Singh, said “properly maintained vehicles could easily run up to 15 years without issues”.

The group commended the rule for a compulsory Puspakom check as a safeguard. “This will help ensure that a particular vehicle is roadworthy,” he said.

According to Apad, the age limit extension was part of the transport ministry’s aim to support the taxi and e-hailing industries while improving the public transport system.