Left: YBrs Tuan Norazman Nordin, Ketua Penolong Pegawai Penguatkuasa Kanan (Dasar), Jabatan Pengangkutan Jalan Malaysia (JPJ), YBrs Puan Mas Tina Abdul Hamid, Co-ordinator, Vehicle Theft Reduction Council of Malaysia (VTREC) and YBrs Encik Syihaab Azmi, Head, Motor Accident Claims,Etiqa General Insurance Berhad (ETIQA)
Kuala Lumpur, 13 January 2024: The Vehicle Theft Reduction Council of Malaysia (VTREC), in collaboration with the Road Transport Department Malaysia (JPJ) and Etiqa General Insurance Berhad (ETIQA), has streamed a 30-minute Facebook Live session aimed at raising awareness about the dangers of drivers that have no license, no road tax and no insurance. The session offered insightful advice on how to ensure road safety for automobiles. The subject matter of the most recent Facebook Live show was ‘Pemandu dan Penunggang Tidak Mempunyai Lesen, Tidak Mempunyai Cukai Jalan, Tidak Mempunyai Insurans’.
YBrs Puan Mas Tina Abdul Hamid, Co-ordinator, Vehicle Theft Reduction Council of Malaysia (VTREC) (centre) sharing her knowledge and latest info on the reverse effect whenever a vehicle being stolen and without having insurance coverage at VTREC FB Live
VTREC hosted an online session through Facebook Live to increase awareness and importance of having a license, road tax and insurance. The purpose of the session was to remind the community of how critical to have a driving license, road tax and insurance coverage.
The panellists include YBrs Puan Mas Tina Abdul Hamid, the Co-ordinator of Vehicle Theft Reduction Council of Malaysia (VTREC), YBrs Tuan Norazman Nordin, Ketua Penolong Pegawai Penguatkuasa Kanan (Dasar), Jabatan Pengangkutan Jalan Malaysia (JPJ) and YBrs Encik Syihaab Azmi, Head, Motor Accident Claims, Etiqa General Insurance Berhad (ETIQA). YBrs Puan Mas Tina opened the session by sharing some news clippings and statistics in relation to not having a driving license, no road tax and no insurance coverage.
According to YBrs Puan Mas Tina, based on statistics provided by JPJ, ‘Pembaharuan Lesen Kenderaan Motor (LKM) for 2021 and 2022 were 18.3 million and 23.6 million active vehicles on the road respectively. She also mentioned that the total number of registered motorcars accounted for 12.2 million, insured motorcars were 11.1 million, and non-insured motorcars were 1.1 million. For registered Motorcycle was 13.7 million, whereby 2.6 million insured motorcycles meanwhile the balance of 11.1 million motorcycles were not insured. Then registered commercial vehicles were 1.5 million, whereby 0.6 million commercial vehicles were insured, meanwhile 0.9 million commercial vehicles were not insured.
The session continues with a few questions from YBrs Puan Mas Tina to YBrs Tuan Norazman Nordin (JPJ). The questions were why driving licenses and road tax are important, how many drivers and bikers do not have their license and road tax, and which vehicle class contributed the most without having a driving license, road tax and insurance coverage.
YBrs Tuan Norazman Nordin, Ketua Penolong Pegawai Penguatkuasa Kanan (Dasar), Jabatan Pengangkutan Jalan Malaysia (JPJ) (left) sharing his knowledge on motorists without driving license are prohibited from driving any vehicle including car or to ride a motorcycle at VTREC FB Live session
Tuan Norazman Nordin explained that the Road Transport Act of 1987 is connected to the vehicle, the drivers, and the road. The Road Transport Act 1987 is a crucial piece of legislation in Malaysia that governs various aspects related to motor vehicles and drivers. Moreover, he said that in order to be a driver, it is compulsory to possess a driving license, insurance coverage and road tax. Thus, whenever the license is renewed, it will immediately connect with the insurance.
When it comes to licensing, section 23 of Road Traffic Act 1987 is referred to. It is quite clear that no one drives and no one hires an employee who does not have a license to drive a vehicle. This indicates that both the driver and the owner of the vehicle will be held accountable if a summon is issued given that the driver failed to provide their driver’s license with owner’s permission to use the vehicle. If both parties were found guilty convicted of the crime, the fine is between RM300.00 and not exceeding RM2,000.00.
According to section 29, the minimum age to obtain motorcycle license is 16, the age qualification for car driving license is age 17 and above. Meanwhile, one must be 21 years old and above to qualify for a commercial vehicle license. Eventually, when the driver receives the license it makes the license holder qualify to drive or ride the vehicle.
Under provisions of section 39 of Road Transport Act, driving under the age of eligibility. Parents who allow their underage children to drive a car or to ride a motorcycle without a license shall be guilty of a fine of not less than RM2,000, in case of injuries, the responsible party will face serious consequences. Without a license, the underage motorist cannot drive and cannot ride and there is no insurance coverage. Drivers and motorists caught without a driving license, no compound summonses as in the past will be isssues, instead will be hauled to court to face charges for the offence, in brief it will be straight to court for unlicensed motorists. A driver or rider without a driving licence has not undergone training or tests. They may not know anything about traffic laws, road sign or defensive driving. Adhering to these age limits is not just a formality. It ensures that young drivers acquire the necessary maturity and skills for safe driving. Additionally, during the probationary driving license (PDL) phase, new drivers undergo additional oversight and rules to enhance safety and proficiency on Malaysian roads.
Within section 90 of Road Transport Act, all vehicles need to have insurance. It is mandatory for every vehicle on the road to hold a valid insurance policy. If get cought not having one, offender may face a hefty fine of up to RM1,000.00. Driving with valid driving license but without insurance policy will result in your driving licence being suspended for 12 months or revoked.
Based on statistics from operations that have been held by JPJ from September to December 2023. Motorists without license recorded about 136,000 cases in Malaysia. For motorcycles, registered license was around 86,300, while without road tax was around 86,000, running the red light was 3,777 cases and not wearing helmet was around 4,568 cases.
To sum up, YBrs Tuan Norazman Nordin shared statistics based on Ops Tahun Baru Cina (Ops TBC) from 1 February to 8 February 2024 which recorded 1,765 cases whereby 60% contributed by motorcycle. Apparently, it is more obvious that motorcyclists were found as the highest contributor to motorists without a driving license, insurance and road tax after recorded 825 cases during that 8-day operation.
YBrs Encik Syihaab Azmi, Head, Motor Accident Claims,Etiqa General Insurance Berhad (ETIQA) (right) addressing how crucial of every vehicle owner to posses valid insurance policy at VTREC FB Live
Questions forwarded to YBrs Encik Syihaab Azmi (ETIQA) (right), were why insurance is important, what disadvantages of not having insurance and what are the least expensive policy premium of all that ETIQA could offer so that everyone able to purchase an insurance policy for their vehicle.
YBrs Encik Syihaab Azmi mentioned statistics that 80% of bikers do not have driving licenses. He also mentioned again that 60% of motorcycle riders got caught during Operation from September to December 2023. This shows motorcycles need to be highlighted for the highest road traffic cases. He also shared statistics from the Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (MIROS) that in 2022, around 524,000 road traffic accidents occurred. Out of this statistics, about 21,000 were recorded under fatal accidents. Thus, it shows the chances of accidents are high that’s why Insurance is important to ensure peace of mind after having an accident. Based on the road traffic accident record, intriguingly, Malaysia unfortunately road traffic accident record, warrant a high degree of concern. In the event of vehicle theft, the policy holder will be insured and covered, the insurance coverage not just covering accident related situation but also vehicle theft. In case of an accident, illness, or disaster, the insurance provides financial security for the policy holder, passengers and third party, if comprehensive insurance was purchased, while atleast third party, fire and theft insurance policy covers the third party when accident happended, fire disaster or vehicle being stolen. He also states that no license means no protection.
Other than that, it covers expenses if vandalism. He explained having insurance is very important peace of mind. He also shared that the cost of insurance for a motorcycle starting from RM200.00 which covers the rider, vehicle and third parties. In respect to cheapest insurance policy premium, basically all of insurance companies or takaful operators in Malaysia offer a variety of service or product to help and mitigate motorists financial risk including cheap and reasonable prices as well as experience insurance agent. More information can be found in their website. He also stated that there is no reason for us not having insurance.
The VTREC FB Live session welcomed questions from the participants, the panellists picked up questions from the Comments Box. In response to the question about the penalty, if the road tax is not renewed, YBrs Tuan Norazman Nordin urged the public to take matter seriously as those who commit such an offence can be be fined of up to RM3,000.00 or imprisonment of up to 3 months or both. In response to a question about the easiest way to renew a license, insurance coverage and road tax, YBrs Encik Syihaab Azmi answered public can always purchase insurance online. He added that insurance agents will always suggest the best insurance coverge together with road tax. Adding to that YBrs Tuan Norazman Nordin highlighted nowadays JPJ has digitalised their system in which driving license has also been digitised. In MyJPJ, renewing a license and road tax can be done in the application.
YBrs Puan Mas Tina Abdul Hamid presenting momentos to YBrs Tuan Norazman Nordin
Left: Puan Marlyana Mansur (VTREC), YBrs Puan Mas Tina Abdul Hamid (VTREC), YBrs Encik Syihaab Azmi, (ETIQA) and Encik Aniq Denial Fauzi (VTREC)
The VTREC FB Live session was wrapped up by a simple remark from YBrs Puan Mas Tina. She urged the public to posses a driving license, have a valid road tax and insurance coverage not just due to fulfilling legal requirements, driving without a valid road tax can result in heavy fines, demerit points or even imprisonment. The insurance coverage also to protect the third party victims, including bodily injuries or event death caused by an accident .
Following the conclusion of the program, During the FB Live, in conjuction with VTREC ‘Kempen Kesedaran Kecurian Kenderaan VTREC 2024’ YBrs Puan Mas Tina invited all viewers to participate in its Soft Launching and Official Launching events, which will take place on February 13th and 28th 2024 respectively. For further information, please visit VTREC website at www.vtrec.net.
