Mandatory speed limiters for commercial vehicles begin Oct 1
Transport Minister Anthony Loke said the implementation of the SLD is a crucial step in controlling the speed of heavy vehicles and reducing the risk of fatal accidents, particularly involving buses and lorries, adding that such systems have long been mandatory in European countries and Singapore.
"Although I am aware that some industry players may push back, citing additional costs and so on, when it comes to ensuring road safety, human lives must take precedence.
"I hope all Yang Berhormat will support the government's efforts to ensure smooth implementation.
"Any opposition should be addressed by making it clear that safety must take priority over costs and business profits," he said during the question-and-answer session in the Dewan Rakyat yesterday.
He was responding to a supplementary question from Datuk Dr Richard Rapu @ Aman Begri (GPS-Betong), who asked about the impact of SLD enforcement, its cost and maintenance, the implications of system failure and whether other countries have made SLD mandatory.
Loke said the enforcement of SLD installation will be carried out in three phases, beginning this October.
Phase 1, starting Oct 1, involves the verification of SLD functionality for all commercial vehicles manufactured after Jan 1, 2015.
Phase 2, effective from Jan 1, 2026, involves the activation of SLD within the Electronic Control Unit (ECU) for commercial vehicles built before Jan 1, 2015.
Phase 3 will require the retrofit installation of SLDs (with approval from the Road Transport Department) on any commercial vehicles not already equipped with the system.
This phase will be enforced from July 1, 2026.
He was responding to the question from Fathul Huzir Ayob (PH-Gerik) on whether the ministry intends to mandate automatic 'cut-off' systems on buses and lorries to limit speed or stop the vehicle if safety rules are ignored.
SLD is an automatic speed control system that electronically limits a vehicle's speed through its ECU to regulate speed without shutting off the engine, thereby maintaining operational safety.
Loke said the system applies to all commercial vehicles, specifically goods vehicles with a gross vehicle weight (GVW) exceeding 3,500kg and passenger vehicles with a GVW exceeding 5,000kg and carrying more than eight passengers.
To Fathul Huzir's supplementary question regarding the integration of safety systems such as Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB), Electronic Stability Control (ESC), and real-time monitoring systems alongside the SLD, as well as the introduction of black boxes for commercial vehicles, Loke said the ministry is considering the proposals.
He said stakeholder engagement sessions will be necessary to ensure any implementation is carried out efficiently and in an orderly manner.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Star
43 minutes ago
- The Star
Malaysians want a say in how they receive payouts
PETALING JAYA: Should Employees' Provident Fund (EPF) members receive their retirement savings in monthly payments or a lump sum? For many Malaysians approaching the retirement age, they want to have a choice. Process senior engineer Adam Abu Bakar, 50, said having several options would allow eligible members to make a decision on how they want their savings to be disbursed. 'It shouldn't be limited to either monthly payments or a lump sum amount. Personally, I am fine with either but there must be clarity on how the monthly payouts are calculated,' he said. He also urged for EPF to have financial advisors readily available to help people manage their retirement funds. 'When a large sum of money suddenly presents itself, people may not know how to save or grow it,' he said. The 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP), which was tabled in the Dewan Rakyat last Thursday, stated that the government was considering introducing a monthly pension payout under EPF. In response, EPF said any decision on this matter would go thorough engagement with key stakeholders and careful consideration of members' long-term interests. Events supervisor Karina Cheng, 54, favoured lump sum payments, saying it can help during emergencies. 'We've worked hard for the money and these are our savings. 'It helps to have cash on hand, as any emergencies beyond our working years can be difficult to manage financially,' she said. Accountant K. Shanmugam, 56, said he preferred the current system over a pension scheme. 'I have my Akaun Emas which I got at 55. I hope they will not force me to resort to a monthly pension scheme. It will not be sustainable for me as I will need my savings for expenses such as my children's wedding and so on,' he said. 'If I am able to fully withdraw my savings, then I can plan my finances better. Also, considering a person's age, there may be health emergencies as well that may require huge amounts of funds.' As such, he said he wanted the government to maintain the current system. Akaun Emas refers to an EPF account for members who reach the age of 55. Any contribution from members aged 55 will be credited into this account and can only be withdrawn once the member turns 60. A senior bank executive who wanted to be known only as Henry, 56, said the current mechanism allowed him to financially support his child's tertiary education expenses. 'Without the lump sum option, it can be very challenging to manage these expenses out of pocket,' he said. 'However, I do understand why the monthly payouts can help, as some people may splurge or even worse, get cheated of their savings.'
Borneo Post
12 hours ago
- Borneo Post
1,200 B40 youths in Sabah receive free motorcycle licences
Shahelmey (center) with Aedy Fadly (left) and Mohd Harris (right) posing with some of the MyLesen B2 recipients. PENAMPANG (Aug 2): A total of 1,200 school students, public higher education students and youths from the B40 income group in Sabah have benefitted from the MyLesen B2 Program for 2025. Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Hajiji Noor said the initiative, jointly implemented by the state and federal governments, aims to assist B40 individuals — particularly school and university students — by covering the full cost of obtaining a Class B2 motorcycle driving license (for motorcycles not exceeding 250cc). 'This is proof of strong cooperation between the federal and state governments, through the Road Transport Department (RTD) under Budget 2025. Nationally, the program targets 15,000 beneficiaries from underprivileged groups,' said Hajiji. His speech was delivered by Deputy Chief Minister III Datuk Shahelmey Yahya during the Sabah State-Level MyLesen Class B2 Driving License Presentation Ceremony 2025 at ITCC Penampang on Saturday. Also present were RTD Director-General Datuk Aedy Fadly Ramli and Sabah RTD Director Datuk Haji Mohd Harris Ali. Hajiji said the program enables beneficiaries to ride legally and safely, promoting mobility that enhances access to jobs, education and economic opportunities — especially in rural communities. 'This initiative supports the Sabah Maju Jaya agenda and the state's poverty eradication and social mobility goals. With continued expansion, it can ease financial burdens and open more doors for Sabah's youth,' he said. Meanwhile, Aedy Fadly noted that the program began in February 2025 in collaboration with Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS), Kota Kinabalu Polytechnic and five driving institutes. He said the initiative not only offers free legal driving access but also promotes road safety awareness and builds a generation of responsible road users. 'I urge all recipients to make good use of this opportunity, obey road laws, and drive safely. This is both a facility and a trust,' he added.
Malay Mail
19 hours ago
- Malay Mail
US tariff cut, regional diplomacy signal Malaysia's return to global relevance under Anwar's leadership, says DAP sec-gen
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 2 — Malaysia is carving out a more influential role for the country and for Asean on the world stage, DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke said today. He said the recent reduction of United States tariffs on Malaysian goods from 25 per cent to 19 per cent reflects how the country – and by extension, Asean, which it currently chairs – is regaining its footing globally under the leadership of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. 'We are working to position ourselves as a 'middle power' while opening new strategic space for Malaysia to rise and advance once again,' Loke said in a statement. He added that Malaysia remains competitive even though it maintains a higher trade surplus with the US compared to its regional peers. 'Our current tariff rate is now on par with other countries in the region,' he noted. The US lowered trade tariffs for Malaysia, Cambodia, Thailand, the Philippines, and Indonesia to 19 per cent on July 31, while Singapore retained its rate at 10 per cent, Brunei at 25 per cent, Laos and Myanmar at 40 per cent. The new rates come into force from August 7. Loke said Malaysia's leadership as this year's Asean chair has also helped the country regain international relevance. He said Putrajaya played a key role in facilitating peace talks between Thailand and Cambodia, and confirmed that Trump would attend the upcoming Asean Summit in Kuala Lumpur. This, Loke said, reflects growing confidence in Malaysia's leadership and diplomatic credibility. He credited Prime Minister Anwar's 'pragmatic, patient and constructive' approach for elevating Malaysia's position in regional security. Under the Madani government, he added, Malaysia has helped steer Asean into becoming a stronger and more cohesive bloc. Loke said Malaysia's diplomatic performance may not always make headlines, but the benefits are real — from easing trade tensions to fostering regional peace. 'The Madani government has not only delivered tangible economic benefits, but also elevated Malaysia's global standing,' he said.
