Puspakom to open seven days a week, eyeing 24-hour rollout

Puspakom will open seven days a week starting in November. Its chief executive, Mahmood Razak Bahman, confirmed the plan to Bernama. The company also wants to run 24-hour operations from January 2027.

That second part is not locked in yet. Mahmood said the 24-hour rollout depends on how the public responds to the seven-day trial. It also depends on whether Puspakom can staff it properly.

The plan comes bundled with real changes for workers too. Staff would move from 12-hour shifts to 8 to 10 hours. They would also get two rest days a week instead of one. Puspakom says that shift is what makes round-the-clock coverage possible at all.

Puspakom: What’s confirmed, what’s still conditional

Puspakom has already held talks with two unions on the new schedule. These are the National Union of Commercial Workers and the Puspakom Staff Union. Mahmood said the goal was to gauge their views before locking anything in.

The November rollout itself is firm. Puspakom centres will open every day of the week starting that month, ending the current limited weekly schedule. That part of the plan does not carry the same conditions as the 24-hour target.

January 2027 is different. Mahmood was direct about what has to happen first. “The target is to launch them next January,” he said. He added that this depends on public response to the seven-day operation, workforce readiness and operational capacity.

Three things could still delay it, then. The public has to actually use the expanded seven-day hours. Puspakom has to hire and train enough staff. And the company has to prove it can run the added capacity without strain.

Better hours for workers, better access for drivers

For drivers, the practical upshot is a longer runway before anything changes for good. Seven-day access is coming in November regardless. Round-the-clock inspections remain a target, not a guarantee, until Puspakom sees how November goes.

The bigger picture here is a genuine trade-off, not just a convenience upgrade. Puspakom is asking staff to work different hours, not simply more of them. Shorter shifts and an extra rest day are the terms attached to broader coverage.

Mahmood also flagged plans for enhanced on-site inspection services, aimed at making the process easier for vehicle owners. He announced the changes at the GiCheck Auto Weekend 2026 event in Klang, alongside new recognition awards for community contributions.

Whether this timeline holds will depend largely on how smoothly November goes. If queues shrink and staff coverage holds up, January’s 24-hour target looks achievable. If either falters, Puspakom has already built itself room to delay.

Vehicle owners should expect the seven-day schedule to arrive as planned. The 24-hour rollout is worth watching, not assuming, until Puspakom confirms it closer to the date.