Thursday June 12, 2008 MYT 4:56:32 PM

Road tax: Get your rebates in 3mins

By MANJIT KAUR

KUALA LUMPUR: It will not take more than three minutes for eligible vehicle owners to get their cash rebates of up to RM625 from 683 post offices nationwide starting Saturday.

Pos Malaysia Berhad executive director Datuk Abu Huraira Abu Yazid said those who renewed or paid their road tax between April 1 and May 31 this year were eligible to claim the rebate anytime between Saturday and March 31 next year.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi announced the road tax cash rebates to cushion the blow of increased fuel prices he unveiled on June 4, to RM2.70 a litre for petrol and RM2.58 a litre for diesel.

Private vehicles of engine capacity of 2,000cc and below, private pickup trucks and jeeps with engine capacity of 2,500cc and below will enjoy a RM625 rebate. Owners of motorcycles of 250cc and below are eligible for a RM150 rebate.

To collect their rebates at the post office, Abu Huraira said vehicle owners must present their original identity card and fill up a simple form.

"Upon filling up the form that requires your name, identity card number and the vehicle plate number, proceed to the counter where your details will be verified with Road Transport Department's database.

"Once the details are confirmed, your thumbprint will be required on the form and the cash handed over. It is a simple process," he told a press conference at Pos Malaysia near here on Thursday.

Those who don't want to queue up can fill up the same form and drop a section of it into a special box that would be provided at the post office, keeping a customer copy for themselves. They must ensure they write their current address and contact number on the form.

"At the end of the day, our staff will verify their details, and if they are eligible then a money order would be posted to the given address within seven days," Abu Huraira said.

He advised people not to rush as they have up to March 31 next year to claim their cash rebates.

Road taxes paid or renewed between April 1 and May 31 constitutes the first phase of the rebate scheme. Abu Huraira said the second phase are those who had renewed or plan to renew their road tax between June 1 this year and March 31 next year. These can start claiming their rebates from July 1 onwards.

Abu Huraira said eligible Malaysians were allowed to claim the rebates for a maximum of five vehicles (both automobiles and motorcycles) per owner.

He said Pos Malaysia had frozen all leave of its 2000+ staff from June 14 to July 31 to ensure smooth implementation.

Post offices are opened from 8.30am to 5pm on Mondays to Saturdays, except for post offices in Kedah, Kelantan and Terengganu, which are closed on Fridays. Post offices are closed on the first Saturday of each month and on public holidays.

Call Pos Malaysia's customer service centre at 1-300-300-300 or visit www.pos.com.my for more information.