Motorcyclist

The government has no plans to lower the minimum age requirement for those looking to obtain a valid motorcycle riding licence, according to a report by The Star.

Deputy Transport Minister Datuk Ab Aziz Kaprawi said the 16-year-old age requirement remain unchanged for those who want to apply for a valid licence. He was asked if the minimum age (to obtain a motorcycle riding licence) would be lowered since many students currently travel to and from school on their own vehicles.

“We feel that those below the age of 16 are not mature enough to be on the road,” he said when replying to the question posed to him by Siti Zailah Mohd Yusoff in the Dewan Rakyat recently.

This year, the Road Transport Department (JPJ) revealed that about 93,600 students ride motorcycles to school without a valid licence, with the department urging parents to have their teenagers (aged 16 and above) to enrol in the MyLesen programme.

driving riding licence categories

Malaysian Institute of Road Safety (Miros) chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye also suggested that the minimum age to obtain a licence be reduced from 16 to 15 years. However, the Consumers Association of Penang (CAP) is asking the government to do the opposite – increasing the requirement to 21 years instead.

In a related matter, Ab Aziz also revealed that as of September this year, 231,788 summonses were issued to road users for various licence-related offences. This includes summonses for failing to renew their licence, using a driving licence not corresponding to the specific vehicle classification, and possession of a fake licence.

He explained that the main reason why road users do not have a valid licence is not due to the cost related, but “attitude and poor understanding of the need to have one.” He added that programmes such as 1JPJ 1Community and MyLesen were meant to help youths obtain Class B2 motorcycle licences.