Transport Minister Anthony Loke says tougher penalties alone cannot stop illegal racing, calling for behavioural change and nationwide cooperation.
PETALING JAYA: Tougher penalties alone will not eliminate illegal racing, Transport Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook said, calling for enforcement to be backed by behavioural change and a wider national effort involving government agencies, community leaders and families.
In the Dewan Rakyat today, Loke said even the strictest laws would continue to be challenged by some offenders, making public awareness and early intervention equally important.
“Whatever the law, even if it is strict and carries heavy punishment, there will still be people who challenge it.
“That is why other approaches are also needed. Elected representatives, community leaders and MPs must play their part by organising awareness campaigns and explaining to young people and the public that racing on public roads is extremely dangerous,” he said during Ministers’ Question Time.
Loke was replying to Datuk Yusuf Abdul Wahab (GPS-Tanjong Manis), who questioned whether existing penalties were sufficient after another fatal crash on July 11 along the East Coast Expressway 1 near the Jabur toll plaza claimed four lives.
Yusuf said the crash occurred about a month after five people, including four members of a family, were killed in an incident near Simpang Renggam.
Loke said recent amendments would allow participants in illegal races to be prosecuted even before a crash occurred, unlike the previous framework where punitive action generally followed an accident.
However, he stressed that enforcement could not operate in isolation.
“The message must be clear that illegal racing cannot be compromised. But besides legal enforcement, society and community leaders must also play their respective roles.
“This has to be explained more widely because prevention cannot depend on punishment alone,” he said.
Replying to Khairil Nizam Khirudin (PN-Jerantut), who proposed a cross-ministry national strategy, Loke said road safety already cut across political parties, ministries and society.
“It does not only require political will, but the will of the whole of society. Political will alone is not enough.
“Behavioural change is also needed. There are psychological effects and various other factors that may explain why someone becomes involved in illegal racing, so this must be examined from different perspectives,” he said.
Loke said the Transport Ministry was prepared to support wider initiatives and mobilise resources within its agencies, although its primary responsibilities remained legislation, enforcement and compliance.
He warned that more than 6,000 people were killed on Malaysian roads each year, describing the toll as a major national disaster.
“When we introduce measures to change attitudes towards road safety, they are sometimes misunderstood, and the minister is accused of being cruel or making life difficult for motorists.
“But road safety must not be politicised. All parties should support this national agenda and help make our roads safer,” he said.
The Road Transport (Amendment) Bill 2026, which was passed by the Dewan Rakyat on June 24, introduces a specific offence for illegal racing under a new Section 42A.
A first conviction carries a fine of between RM2,000 and RM10,000, imprisonment of up to two years, or both, while repeat offenders face fines of RM5,000 to RM20,000 and up to five years’ imprisonment.
