I refer to the letter New NAP policy terribly unjust .

I hope the government will re-think its move, effective beginning of next year, to introduce mandatory inspections for privately-owned vehicles above 15 years.

I am an average, middle-income group citizen, with two more years to retirement, with a 12- year old car (bought second-hand), with 46 more instalments to go. There are probably a few million other citizens in a quite a similar situation (in the age group of 40s to 50s, owners of ageing vehicles, earning mediocre income or about to retire) who will suffer badly if the above regulation is imposed.

There are also many in their 40s to 50s, with joint pains, weight problems or other medical conditions who can still drive but would find it difficult standing for a long time waiting for public transport, standing on a moving bus/train, getting off fast enough before the driver speeds off or walking long distances from the stations to their destinations.

Also imagine if the person is carrying about 10kg of provisions. A car is thus a necessity for getting to work, running errands, going to the clinic/hospital, etc. A car is also cheaper for a family with children, because the total in bus fares could be more, especially in the rural areas.

This is just one of the many difficulties faced by the ordinary ‘rakyat’ compared to those who travel in chauffeur-driven comfort, without having to carry heavy bags, who get down at main entrances onto the red carpet, not having to walk long distances up and down staircases, cross roads with motorcycles, cars and heavy vehicles ‘trying to mow the pedestrian down’ and not having to almost trip over uneven pavement tiles and bad road surfaces, etc.

Many in the lower to middle-income groups cannot afford to even change their car after 15 years, so they will be the victims of this new regulation.

One of the reasons cited for the new law was that these older vehicles are likely to be the cause of accidents. Please do not blame the vehicles. It is mainly the driver who is the cause. They are those who drive under the influence of drugs, alcohol, those who are suffering from lack of sleep, those who speed, those who drive recklessly, those who use mobile phones while driving, etc.

Please also look at why vehicles get involved in accidents. We cannot generalise - accidents can happen with a new car, a three-year old car, a seven-year old car, a local car, an imported car, a cheap car or a luxury car.

Why not limit the new regulation to heavy vehicles? This is because there are many serious and fatal accidents caused by heavy vehicles with faulty brakes, etc. Imagine a poor family all crushed to death in a small car when it collides with a heavy vehicle or almost a whole busload of passengers perishing in an express bus crash.

Do not simply burden the poor rakyat.