Malaysia passes Road Transport Amendment Bill 2026

The Malaysian Dewan Rakyat has passed the Road Transport (Amendment) Bill 2026, introducing significant changes to the Road Transport Act 1987 to enhance road safety and enforcement capabilities.

A key provision, Section 42A, targets illegal street racing and speed testing involving two or more vehicles on public roads. This allows authorities to take action before accidents, injuries, or fatalities occur. First-time offenders face fines between RM2,000 and RM10,000 and up to two years in prison. Repeat offenders face higher fines of RM5,000 to RM20,000 and potential imprisonment of up to five years.

The Bill also introduces Section 110B to penalize “tonto” activities, where individuals obstruct enforcement or leak information about ongoing operations to help others evade the law. Convictions for these activities can result in fines from RM10,000 to RM50,000 and jail terms of one to five years.

Additional amendments include strengthening digital enforcement through automated systems, holding registered vehicle owners accountable for camera-detected offences, and establishing rules for detaining micromobility vehicles.