YOUTHS accounted for almost 50% of the 14,308 road accident death cases recorded in two years from 2019, said Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob today.

He said road accidents were among the main cause of deaths in the country with an average of 4,769 lives lost each year especially the high youth figure which is a major challenge for enforcers to curb.

“Youths have a bright future and are needed by the nation but they were the most affected group. Driving licences should help us facilitate movement especially to find a living. We hope those who obtain it would be disciplined when riding their motorcycles,” he said.

Ismail was speaking at the Malaysian Family Driving Licence Aid Programme at the Bera Rakan Muda Complex in Bear today, which saw 404 Orang Asli residents from the district selected under the programme acquire motorcycle driving licence at minimal cost.

Present were Road Transport Department (RTD) director-general Zailani Hashim and Pahang Public Works, Transport and Health Committee chairman Norolazali Sulaiman. 

To curb the road accident death rate, Ismail said the RTD should have more advocacy and engagement programmes in line with the desire of the government to bring down road accident fatalities by 50% by 2030.

Commenting on the driving licence aid programme, the prime minister said it was created for those in need such as the B40 group and the Orang Asli community who have difficulties attending classes at driving training institutes to obtain the B2 driving licence.

“The programme is aimed at helping them as we know they encounter some difficulty in getting a licence. The programme incorporates the training needed for them to become motorcycle riders in compliance with the law,” he said.

Based on the media statement of Deputy Transport Minister, Henry Sum Agong, the programme criteria requires a candidate to be a Malaysian aged 16, physically and mentally healthy and with no physical disabilities. The candidate should not be blacklisted by the RTD or police as well as not holding any vehicle driving licence.

It is part of the corporate social responsibility (CSR) since the 90’s of the RTD with the People Programme, before being changed to One RTD, One Community Programme and the Prihatin Driving Licence Aid programme. – Bernama, March 13, 2022.