With lives at stake, we can no longer afford to delay reforming Malaysia’s heavy vehicle policies. The recent surge in serious road accidents involving commercial heavy vehicles is a clear signal that our system is failing. These are not isolated incidents — they are recurring tragedies that demand urgent action.
It is time we stop reacting after the fact and start implementing preventive measures. Malaysia should learn from successful models in countries like Germany and Japan, where strict regulation, modernised driver training, and rigorous inspections work hand-in-hand with advanced technologies. We must embrace AI-powered surveillance, GPS tracking, and real-time data analysis to assist enforcement, ensuring that unfit drivers and unsafe vehicles are removed from our roads.
While heavy vehicles are essential to our economy, they should not come at the cost of public safety. When roads become scenes of devastation, it ceases to be a mere transport issue — it becomes a national public safety crisis.
This is why I call for a thorough, systemic review of our heavy vehicle policies, covering everything from licensing procedures to enforcement capabilities. We must ensure our regulatory systems are modern, effective, and immune to abuse.
We should also lead in establishing a regional road safety cooperation mechanism within ASEAN. By sharing data, coordinating enforcement, and linking smart traffic systems, we can build a safer and more resilient transport network across the region.
More importantly, we must acknowledge this fundamental truth: every traffic fatality is preventable. Behind each accident lies a grieving family, a broken community, and lost potential. Road safety must not be an afterthought — it should be built into our infrastructure, policy-making, and national culture.
As Special Officer to Deputy Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who chairs the Cabinet Committee on Road Safety and Traffic Congestion, I assure the public that this issue is being taken seriously. The government is already coordinating efforts across ministries, recognising that the challenge extends beyond traffic alone. It involves urban planning, engineering, logistics, and human capital development.
In 2024, Malaysia recorded a record 816,747 new vehicle registrations. Our roads are under unprecedented strain, and the risks will only grow without immediate infrastructure upgrades and safety measures. That is why the government has begun installing solar-powered LED lights in high-risk areas and expanding dedicated public bus lanes to reduce traffic conflict and improve flow.
We are also reactivating the Malaysian Road Safety Council (MKJR), empowering the Road Transport Department (JPJ) to intensify enforcement, and laying the foundation for a more intelligent, responsive traffic safety framework.
But policy alone is not enough. Real change requires a collective effort — from the government, enforcement agencies, and the public. We must all prioritise safety, embrace sustainable transport solutions, and be bold enough to change.
If we fail to act, more lives will be lost — and we will all share that burden.
Let us choose safety. Let us choose progress. Let us build a Malaysia where our roads protect lives, not end them.
Reference : No more stalling on heavy vehicle policies, says MCA | The Star