Transport Ministry mulls court-ordered compensation for road accident victims or next of kin under proposed amendments to the Road Transport Act 1987.
KUALA LUMPUR: The Transport Ministry (MOT) is proposing amendments to the Road Transport Act 1987 to introduce a compensation mechanism for victims or their lawful next of kin in cases of road accidents resulting in death or serious injury, the Dewan Rakyat was told today.
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 were 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 through dangerous driving and illegal racing will not be treated as ordinary traffic offenders.
“Instead, they will face the heaviest legal action commensurate with the circumstances of the case,” he said when replying to a question from Datuk Yusuf Abd Wahab (GPS-Tanjong Manis).
Loke said to curb illegal racing, the government had tabled the Road Transport (Amendment) Bill 2026, which was passed by the Dewan Rakyat and, among others, introduced a new Section 42A to create a specific offence for illegal racing.
He said a first offence carries a fine of not less than RM2,000 and not more than RM10,000, or imprisonment for up to two years, or both, while a second or subsequent offence carries a fine of between RM5,000 and RM20,000, or imprisonment for up to five years, or both.
The amendment enabled action to be taken against individuals involved in illegal racing even before any accident occurred, he said.
“Previously, penalties could only be imposed after an accident had occurred, but now any party involved in illegal racing activities can be charged and convicted even before an accident takes place,” he said.
Loke said the ministry had also intensified enforcement operations nationwide, including the latest operation in Johor, which saw 16 individuals arrested and 260 motorcycles seized over involvement in illegal racing.
He said in the accident at Km27 of Jalan Renggam-Simpang Renggam in Johor on June 1, which claimed five lives, the Attorney-General’s Chambers had instructed 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 was a national agenda that required cooperation from all parties, including ministries, community leaders and the public.
Apart from enforcement, he said behavioural changes and public awareness were crucial in reducing road accidents that claim more than 6,000 lives annually.
“We need not only political will but the whole society 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,” he added.
