THE Road Transport Department (JPJ) will soon enforce mandatory seatbelt use for all passengers in private vehicles across Malaysia, its director-general Datuk Aedy Fadly Ramli has confirmed.
While the exact enforcement date has yet to be announced, Datuk Aedy said the department’s immediate focus is on raising public awareness through advocacy initiatives such as the newly launched ‘Klik Sebelum Gerak’ campaign.
“In line with this campaign, we will later announce the enforcement of seatbelt use for passengers of private cars. We will announce it in due course. For now, we are beginning with the ‘Klik Sebelum Gerak’ campaign first, and later we will confirm the date for (the seatbelt) enforcement for car passengers,” he told reporters during a press conference yesterday.
Under the Motor Vehicles (Seatbelt and Child Restraint System) Rules 1978 (Amendment 2019), individuals who fail to wear a seatbelt may face fines of up to RM300.
Describing the campaign as a reflection of JPJ’s ongoing commitment to public safety, Datuk Aedy added, “The campaign demonstrates JPJ's commitment to ensuring that every journey starts with the most fundamental safety measure, wearing a seatbelt.”
He cited findings from the Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (MIROS), which suggest that wearing a seatbelt can reduce the risk of passenger fatalities by up to 50 per cent in the event of a crash.
“In this regard, using seatbelts helps keep drivers and passengers securely seated during a crash, unlike those without seatbelts who are at a significantly higher risk of injury,” he said.
JPJ will continue to promote the importance of seatbelt usage through public education, consistent communication across multiple platforms, and routine inspections.
“JPJ is highly committed to making seatbelt use a national safety norm and culture to protect the lives of all road users,” he added.
In a related development, seatbelt enforcement is already in effect for drivers and passengers of express and tour buses as of 1 July 2025. This applies to buses manufactured from January 2020 onwards, while older buses are being given time to retrofit seatbelts.
“We have already begun enforcement (for seatbelts), and we are issuing summonses to passengers who fail to wear them,” said Datuk Aedy. - September 12, 2025
