KUALA LUMPUR – The current enforcement against motorcycles with loud exhausts will now only be met with advocacy action, that is, the issuing of notices for an interview to assist investigations, rather than riders being issued summonses, said Transport Minister Datuk Seri Wee Ka Siong.
Wee said he has informed Road Transport Department (RTD) director-general Datuk Zailani Hashim for offenders to only be issued the notice for advocacy action rather than a fine.
“I have studied the speech by Umno president (Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi on his views regarding action over loud motorcycle exhausts).
“I would like to announce that the Transport Ministry has decided that, at this stage, it is better to focus on the advocacy approach, which is to issue Notice 114 rather than than to issue summonses,” he said after the opening of the second day of the Umno General Assembly 2020 here today.
Notice 114 is a notice for interview for the purpose of investigations and information gathering. Those who receive the notice must appear at any RTD branch office to assist in the investigation.
Wee also said a meeting was held between Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Abdul Hamid Bador and the RTD director-general to coordinate the advocacy action as the move also involves traffic police.
The government had imposed a fine of up to RM2,000 or imprisonment not exceeding six months on motorcycle owners who modify their vehicles with loud exhausts.
Under Section 64 of the Road Transport Act 1987, the police are empowered to seize such motorcycles.
According to the Bukit Aman Traffic Investigation and Enforcement Department, as of March 5, a total of 10,166 summonses for various offences were issued in special operations against motorcycles with loud exhausts since March 1.
The issue was touched on by Zahid in his policy speech this morning.
“Don’t seize the motorcycles. How can they continue to survive when that is the only vehicle they have to make a living? Are we so blind and cruel as to let the people continue to suffer?” he had said. – Bernama, March 28, 2021
