KUALA LUMPUR, July 14 — The Transport Ministry (MOT) is proposing amendments to the Road Transport Act 1987 to introduce a compensation mechanism for victims or their next of kin in cases of road crashes resulting in death or serious injury, the Dewan Rakyat was told today.
Transport Minister Anthony Loke said under the proposed amendments, the court would be empowered to order offenders convicted of serious offences under the act to pay compensation to victims or their next of kin based on the facts and merits of each case.
He said among the factors to be considered are the severity of the injuries or loss of life, the losses suffered and the offender’s ability to pay.
“This reflects the government’s commitment… that drivers who cause deaths with dangerous driving and illegal racing would not be treated as ordinary traffic offenders.
“Instead, they will face the heaviest legal action commensurate with the circumstances of the case,” he said in reply to a question from Datuk Yusuf Abd Wahab (GPS-Tanjong Manis).
Loke said to curb illegal racing, the government has tabled the Road Transport (Amendment) Bill 2026, which was passed by the Dewan Rakyat and introduced Section 42A to classify illegal racing as a specific offence.
He said that under the law, a first offence carries a fine of not between RM2,000 and RM10,000, up to two years in prison, or both, while a second or subsequent offence carries a fine of between RM5,000 and RM20,000, up to five years in prison, or both.
The amendment allows action against those involved in illegal racing even before a crash occurred, he added.
“Previously, penalties could only be imposed after a crash had occurred, but now anyone involved in illegal racing can be charged and convicted even before a crash takes place,” he said.
Loke said MOT has intensified enforcement operations nationwide, including the latest in Johor that saw 16 people arrested and 260 motorcycles seized for illegal racing.
Meanwhile, on the crash at Km27 of Jalan Renggam-Simpang Renggam in Johor on June 1, which claimed five lives, Loke said the Attorney-General’s Chambers had ordered that investigations be conducted under Section 302 of the Penal Code.
On a proposal to establish a cross-ministerial national strategy to address illegal racing, Loke said road safety is a national agenda that requires cooperation from all quarters, including ministries, community leaders, and the public.
Apart from enforcement, he said behavioural changes and public awareness are crucial in decreasing road crashes, which claim 6,000 lives annually.
“We need not only political will, but the whole of society’s will. I hope no party will politicise the issue of road safety because our aim is to make the country’s roads safer for everyone,” Loke added.
