JPJ mulls seatbelt rules on higher education institutions, residential school buses
Its director-general Datuk Aedy Fadly Ramli said the department will mobilise its state-level technical and enforcement teams beginning in August to collaborate with institutions in inspecting their buses.
'Almost all higher education institutions and residential schools have their own buses… we want to ensure that these vehicles are properly maintained and comply with specifications, and that their drivers also adhere to road safety regulations,' he told a press conference after officiating the MyLesen (B2) licence handover ceremony at a hotel here today.
However, he said inspections will be conducted in phases due to JPJ's limited manpower capacity.
In a related development, Aedy Fadly said the department is currently developing a mechanism to suspend or revoke driving licences issued under the MyLesen B2 programme if participants are found to be involved in illegal activities such as illegal racing or 'rempit' (reckless riding). 'We do not want the government's efforts to go in vain, as the MyLesen B2 programme is fully funded by the federal government. From training to testing, recipients of the licence do not have to bear any cost,' he said.
Aedy Fadly urged all recipients of the programme to comply strictly with road regulations and to refrain from engaging in illegal or dangerous activities.
'We are still finalising the penalties, possibly suspension or complete revocation of the licence. Should that happen, the individual would have to reapply like any other member of the public. It's a waste when we grant this opportunity to those who fail to value the government's efforts,' he added.
At the event, a total of 940 out of 1,000 MyLesen B2 participants successfully obtained their motorcycle licences.
Meanwhile, he said that in line with Transport Minister Anthony Loke's recent announcement to increase the programme's national quota by 10,000 for the second half of the year, priority will be given to secondary school students, especially those in the JPJ Cadet programme.
'These students have already been exposed to traffic laws and road safety practices, making them ideal candidates for the B2 licence assistance programme,' he said.
Currently, there are 25 schools in Pahang with around 1,000 JPJ Cadets, and over 300 schools nationwide hosting the cadet units.
On July 10, Loke announced that JPJ would allocate an additional 10,000 slots under the MyLesen B2 programme nationwide, involving an allocation of RM3.5 million. — Bernama
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Malay Mail
an hour ago
- Malay Mail
Hanoi's green transition may clear the air, but is the cost of switching to electric bikes too much for everyday commuters?
HANOI, July 20 — Vietnam's plan to bar gas-guzzling motorbikes from central Hanoi may clear the air of the smog-smothered capital, but riders fear paying a high toll for the capital's green transition. 'Of course everyone wants a better environment,' said housewife Dang Thuy Hanh, baulking at the 80 million dong (RM12,986) her family would spend replacing their four scooters with electric alternatives. 'But why give us the first burden without any proper preparation?' grumbled the 52-year-old. Hanoi's scooter traffic is a fixture of the city's urban buzz. The northern hub of nine million people has nearly seven million two-wheelers, hurtling around at rush hour in a morass of congestion. Their exhausts splutter emissions regularly spurring the city to the top of worldwide smog rankings in a country where pollution claims at least 70,000 lives a year, according to the World Health Organization. The government last weekend announced plans to block fossil-fuelled bikes from Hanoi's 31 square kilometre (12 square mile) centre by next July. It will expand in stages to forbid all gas-fuelled vehicles in urban areas of the city in the next five years. Hanh — one of the 600,000 people living in the central embargo zone — said the looming cost of e-bikes has left her fretting over the loss of 'a huge amount of savings'. While she conceded e-bikes may help relieve pollution, she bemoaned the lack of public charging points near her home down a tiny alley in the heart of the city. 'Why force residents to change while the city's infrastructure is not yet able to adapt to the new situation?' she asked. Many families in communist-run Vietnam own at least two motorcycles for daily commutes, school runs, work and leisure. Proposals to reform transport for environmental reasons often sparks allegations the burden of change is felt highest by the working class. London has since 2023 charged a toll for older, higher pollution-emitting vehicles. France's populist 'Yellow Vest' protests starting in 2018 were in part sparked by allegations President Emmanuel Macron's 'green tax' on fuel was unfair for the masses. 'Cost too high' Hanoi authorities say they are considering alleviating the financial burden by offering subsidies of at least three million dong per switch to an e-bike, and also increasing public bus services. Hanoi authorities say they are considering alleviating the financial burden by offering subsidies of at least three million dong per switch to an e-bike, and also increasing public bus services. — AFP pic Food delivery driver Tran Van Tan, who rides his bike 40 kilometres (25 miles) every day from neighbouring Hung Yen province to downtown Hanoi, says he makes his living 'on the road'. 'The cost of changing to an e-bike is simply too high,' said the 45-year-old, employed through the delivery app Grab. 'Those with a low income like us just cannot suddenly replace our bikes.' Compared with a traditional two-wheeler, he also fears the battery life of e-bikes 'won't meet the needs for long-distance travel'. But citing air pollution as a major threat to human health, the environment and quality of life, deputy mayor Duong Duc Tuan earlier this week said 'drastic measures are needed'. In a recent report, Hanoi's environment and agriculture ministry said over half of the poisonous smog that blankets the city for much of the year comes from petrol and diesel vehicles. The World Bank puts the figure at 30 per cent, with factories and waste incineration also major culprits. Several European cities, such as Barcelona, Paris and Amsterdam have also limited the use of internal combustion engines on their streets — and other major Vietnamese cities are looking to follow suit. The southern business hub Ho Chi Minh City aims to gradually transition delivery and service motorbikes to electric over the next few years. But with the high costs, office worker Nguyen My Hoa thinks the capital's ban will not be enforceable. 'Authorities will not be able to stop the huge amount of gasoline bikes from entering the inner districts,' 42-year-old Hoa said. 'It simply does not work.' — AFP
Borneo Post
5 hours ago
- Borneo Post
JPJ mulls seatbelt rules on higher education institutions, residential school buses
File photo for illustration purposes KUANTAN (July 20): The Road Transport Department (JPJ) plans to expand enforcement of seatbelt usage to all buses owned by institutions of higher learning and fully residential schools. Its director-general Datuk Aedy Fadly Ramli said the department will mobilise its state-level technical and enforcement teams beginning in August to collaborate with institutions in inspecting their buses. 'Almost all higher education institutions and residential schools have their own buses… we want to ensure that these vehicles are properly maintained and comply with specifications, and that their drivers also adhere to road safety regulations,' he told a press conference after officiating the MyLesen (B2) licence handover ceremony at a hotel here today. However, he said inspections will be conducted in phases due to JPJ's limited manpower capacity. In a related development, Aedy Fadly said the department is currently developing a mechanism to suspend or revoke driving licences issued under the MyLesen B2 programme if participants are found to be involved in illegal activities such as illegal racing or 'rempit' (reckless riding). 'We do not want the government's efforts to go in vain, as the MyLesen B2 programme is fully funded by the federal government. From training to testing, recipients of the licence do not have to bear any cost,' he said. Aedy Fadly urged all recipients of the programme to comply strictly with road regulations and to refrain from engaging in illegal or dangerous activities. 'We are still finalising the penalties, possibly suspension or complete revocation of the licence. Should that happen, the individual would have to reapply like any other member of the public. It's a waste when we grant this opportunity to those who fail to value the government's efforts,' he added. At the event, a total of 940 out of 1,000 MyLesen B2 participants successfully obtained their motorcycle licences. Meanwhile, he said that in line with Transport Minister Anthony Loke's recent announcement to increase the programme's national quota by 10,000 for the second half of the year, priority will be given to secondary school students, especially those in the JPJ Cadet programme. 'These students have already been exposed to traffic laws and road safety practices, making them ideal candidates for the B2 licence assistance programme,' he said. Currently, there are 25 schools in Pahang with around 1,000 JPJ Cadets, and over 300 schools nationwide hosting the cadet units. On July 10, Loke announced that JPJ would allocate an additional 10,000 slots under the MyLesen B2 programme nationwide, involving an allocation of RM3.5 million. – Bernama Aedy Fadly Ramli lead Road Transport Department school bus seatbelt
Malay Mail
5 hours ago
- Malay Mail
JPJ mulls seatbelt rules on higher education institutions, residential school buses
KUANTAN, July 20 — The Road Transport Department (JPJ) plans to expand enforcement of seatbelt usage to all buses owned by institutions of higher learning and fully residential schools. Its director-general Datuk Aedy Fadly Ramli said the department will mobilise its state-level technical and enforcement teams beginning in August to collaborate with institutions in inspecting their buses. 'Almost all higher education institutions and residential schools have their own buses… we want to ensure that these vehicles are properly maintained and comply with specifications, and that their drivers also adhere to road safety regulations,' he told a press conference after officiating the MyLesen (B2) licence handover ceremony at a hotel here today. However, he said inspections will be conducted in phases due to JPJ's limited manpower capacity. In a related development, Aedy Fadly said the department is currently developing a mechanism to suspend or revoke driving licences issued under the MyLesen B2 programme if participants are found to be involved in illegal activities such as illegal racing or 'rempit' (reckless riding). 'We do not want the government's efforts to go in vain, as the MyLesen B2 programme is fully funded by the federal government. From training to testing, recipients of the licence do not have to bear any cost,' he said. Aedy Fadly urged all recipients of the programme to comply strictly with road regulations and to refrain from engaging in illegal or dangerous activities. 'We are still finalising the penalties, possibly suspension or complete revocation of the licence. Should that happen, the individual would have to reapply like any other member of the public. It's a waste when we grant this opportunity to those who fail to value the government's efforts,' he added. At the event, a total of 940 out of 1,000 MyLesen B2 participants successfully obtained their motorcycle licences. Meanwhile, he said that in line with Transport Minister Anthony Loke's recent announcement to increase the programme's national quota by 10,000 for the second half of the year, priority will be given to secondary school students, especially those in the JPJ Cadet programme. 'These students have already been exposed to traffic laws and road safety practices, making them ideal candidates for the B2 licence assistance programme,' he said. Currently, there are 25 schools in Pahang with around 1,000 JPJ Cadets, and over 300 schools nationwide hosting the cadet units. On July 10, Loke announced that JPJ would allocate an additional 10,000 slots under the MyLesen B2 programme nationwide, involving an allocation of RM3.5 million. — Bernama
