PETALING JAYA: The Computerised Vehicle Inspection Centre (Puspakom) detected 1,200 "cut-and-joined" cars (kereta potong) in the first three months of this year, compared with a total of 4,629 found last year.

These vehicles, of which an average of 20 are found a day, were detected when they were taken to Puspakom centres nationwide for inspection before they could be sold as used cars.

"The number of 'half cut' cars on the road is alarming. There is a great danger of using such vehicles. They not only pose a danger to the drivers, but also to other road users,"said Puspakom chief executive officer Datuk Salamat Wahit.

In 2003, Puspakom found 521 such cars during routine inspections. The figured escalated to 2,368 in 2004, followed by 4,062 in 2005.

He said most of the “half-cut” vehicles were fitted with cannibalised parts and had tampered chassis numbers.

All used cars are required to undergo the Puspakom inspection if potential owners require a bank loan to buy them. However, the ruling does not apply to vehicles bought with cash.

Under the Road Transport Act, cannibalised parts are deemed illegal, and cars found fitted with such components on the floor and roof can be sealed and have their registrations cancelled by the Road Transport Department.

Salamat said Puspakom had proposed to the Government to make it mandatory for all used cars to be inspected by Puspakom prior to transfer of ownership to detect "cut-and-joined" vehicles.

Yesterday, Puspakom also launched a free 10-point vehicle inspection scheme for motorcars and motorcycles at 31 of its branches and centres nationwide.

The free inspection, said Salamat, was in conjunction with Global Road Safety Week from April 23-29.

"The inspection is to determine the safety and problems faced by the vehicle," Salamat said, adding that the checks would include engine, chassis number and the undercarriage.

Other tests are for smoke emission, slide-slip to determine the vehicle’s optimum road handling, suspension, brakes, speedometer and headlights. Defect tests will also be conducted to determine the vehicle's roadworthiness.