Increased Punishment For Offences Involving Modification Of Motorcycle Engines And Exhaust Pipes

The Road Transport Act of 1987 will be amended to raise the penalty for modifying motorbike engines and exhaust pipes from RM300 to RM10,000.

If proven guilty in court, persons who participate in unlawful motorcycle racing face a jail term under a new provision in the statute.

The proposed revisions also aim to penalise irresponsible parents who allow their children to modify their motorcycles for illegal racing, as well as workshop owners who do so.

Datuk Isham Ishak, secretary-general of the Transport Ministry, stated that the proposed revisions are in the "good regulatory practise" (GRP) stage, which includes engagements and talks with stakeholders.

"Raising the fines is important because many young people today openly disobey the law by participating in motorcycle races.

"They can afford to pay the RM300 punishment, so we propose increasing the penalty to RM10,000 in order to raise awareness about the consequences of illegal racing.

"Furthermore, parents who allow their children to use bikes for illicit racing and workshop owners who modify the bikes will also be slammed with charges.

"In addition to providing bikers with a sense of self-gratification, illicit racing may inspire them to engage in unhealthy activities," he told BH.

Isham anticipated that the suggested revisions will be introduced in Parliament around the third quarter of next year.

He stated that the ministry wanted the revisions to go through the GRP stage to ensure that the law could be efficiently implemented after taking into account the views of all stakeholders.

He stated that effective enforcement was critical to reducing motorbike accidents on the road.