KUALA LUMPUR: The proposed amendment to the Road Transport Act 1987 (Act 333) reflects the government’s genuine commitment to preventing roads from remaining places of grief and bloodshed, said Sipitang MP Datuk Matbali Musah.
He emphasised that the primary objective of the amendment is to reduce road accidents, especially those resulting in fatalities.
“For instance, there were 6,080 fatal accidents in 2022. This rose to 6,300 in 2023, climbed further to 6,464 in 2024, and continued increasing to 6,537 last year (2025),” he noted.
“May this legislation serve as a guiding light for all travelers, so that every person who leaves home can return safely to their loved ones,” he added.
Matbali made these remarks while debating on the Road Transport Act 1987 (Amendment) Bill 2026 in the Dewan Rakyat, here today.
While supporting the bill, he acknowledged that legal changes alone cannot eliminate all accidents.
However, he expressed hope that stronger laws, consistent enforcement, and ongoing public awareness efforts will help lower risks.
“It’s time we shift the mindset that obeying traffic rules is only about avoiding fines.”
“Instead, compliance should come from an understanding that each regulation exists to safeguard lives,” he stressed.
According to him, cultivating a true safety culture requires more than temporary campaigns.
“It must be developed through sustained education, firm enforcement, and robust legal frameworks.”
“When laws are strengthened, the message becomes clear: human lives are not expendable,” he said.
Matbali also highlighted the importance of the amendment in promoting discipline among drivers and road users.
Highways, he reminded, are not racetracks nor arenas for testing courage.
“Drivers who are careless, reckless, or disregard traffic rules endanger not only themselves but also everyone else sharing the road,” he warned.
The amendment addresses four key areas—digitalization, penalty adjustments, new provisions, and improvements to existing clauses—all designed to enhance road safety in line with international best practices.
