26/06/2026

FRIDAY | JUNE 26, 2026

/thesuntelegram FOLLOW / Malaysian Paper

ON TELEGRAM m RAM

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Rohingya refugees not allowed to drive

Less than 1% of Budi95 users exceed monthly quota KUALA LUMPUR: Fewer than 1% of the 14 million users registered under the Budi Madani Ron95 (Budi95) programme consume more than the 200-litre monthly quota, said Finance Minister II Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan. He added that data consistently showed stable consumption patterns among Budi95 users, with transparency ensured through daily monitoring using MyKad identification numbers. “Anyone wishing to use Budi95 must register their identity card in the system. We receive about three million transactions daily into our database, allowing us to monitor, analyse and verify usage. “Since the programme was implemented in October 2025 until May this year, we have seen Budi95 operate smoothly nationwide,” he said when replying to Datuk Awang Hashim (PN Pendang) during Minister’s Question Time in the Dewan Rakyat yesterday. Earlier, Datuk Seri Hasni Mohammad (BN Simpang Renggam) asked the government to explain the rationale behind using MyKad in the targeted fuel subsidy mechanism and whether the 200-litre monthly quota was sufficient for consumers. In response, Amir Hamzah said Statistics Department data showed that more than 80% of diesel users consumed less than 200 litres a month, with average monthly consumption of about 140 litres. However, he said the government recognised that many Malaysians relied on diesel-powered pick-up trucks and sport utility vehicles (SUV), particularly small traders transporting goods and residents in rural areas. “As such, the government has introduced an additional 100-litre Budi Madani Diesel quota, which eligible users may apply for. “Based on (department) data, 95% of diesel users consume less than 300 litres a month. Therefore, the 300-litre monthly entitlement is sufficient for the vast majority of users,” he said. He added that the use of MyKad to distribute fuel subsidies had helped curb leakage while safeguarding both public funds and domestic fuel supplies, particularly during periods of uncertainty. – Bernama Council bans hawkers within 40 metres of schools BUKIT MERTAJAM: The Seberang Perai City Council (MBSP) will begin full enforcement of a ban on all trading activities within 40m of school fences across the district from next year to safeguard student safety, ease traffic congestion and uphold food hygiene standards. Its mayor Datuk Baderul Amin Abdul Hamid said the measure is in line with the Housing and Local Government Ministry guidelines on trading outside school compounds. “The enforcement follows growing complaints from schools and parents over hawkers operating outside school gates, particularly involving the sale of unhealthy food, poor hygiene practices and risks to children safety,” he said at a press conference at Sekolah Kebangsaan Bandar Baru Perda yesterday. The council would adopt a phased approach for the remainder of this year, focusing on public education, advocacy and voluntary compliance before full enforcement begins in January. The council has also begun installing no-trading signs around school perimeters, distributing information leaflets to hawkers, holding dialogue sessions with schools and local communities, and increasing patrols by enforcement and environmental health officers. – Bernama

KOTA BHARU: The Kelantan Road Transport Department (RTD) has stressed that members of the Rohingya community are not eligible to hold Malaysian driving licences due to their refugee status. Its director Mohd Misuari Abdullah said the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) card held by members of the community is not an official identification document that qualifies them to apply for a driving licence. o RTD warns vehicle owners they could face court action if they allow unqualified individuals to use their vehicles PETALING JAYA: Road safety enforcement remains weak despite ongoing efforts by the authorities, with several gaps continuing to undermine commuting safety and expose workers to preventable risks on the road, said Alliance for a Safe Community chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye. He added that Malaysia must strengthen road safety enforcement to curb commuting incidents as insufficient enforcement personnel, inconsistent monitoring and persistent traffic violations continue to endanger workers travelling to and from their workplaces. “Commuting accidents remain a major concern as they account for a significant proportion of workplace-related accidents reported to the Social Security Organisation (Socso) each year. “This highlights that road safety is not merely a transport issue, but also an occupational safety and public health concern that requires urgent attention,” he told theSun . Lee said despite ongoing enforcement efforts, several weaknesses continue to undermine road safety outcomes, including poor coordination between enforcement agencies and employers as well as the low perceived risk among motorists of being caught for certain traffic offences. He added that enforcement alone would not be enough if road infrastructure defects, poor road design, inadequate lighting and poorly maintained vehicles are not addressed simultaneously. “Without effective enforcement, laws and regulations lose their deterrent effect, allowing dangerous driving behaviour to continue unchecked. “Strong and consistent enforcement is needed to deter speeding, reckless overtaking, tailgating, distracted driving, mobile phone use behind the wheel and driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs,” he said. Lee added that effective enforcement also promotes greater compliance with road safety regulations, including the use of seat belts and helmets, vehicle roadworthiness requirements and adherence to traffic laws. “Stronger enforcement would also help reduce the human and economic costs of road Ű BY QIRANA NABILLA MOHD RASHIDI newsdesk@thesundaily.com

summonses were issued for various offences under the Road Transport Act 1987. Mohd Misuari also issued a stern warning to local vehicle owners who rent out or allow their vehicles to be driven by Rohingya individuals. He said such vehicle owners would no longer be issued compounds but instead be charged in court under Section 23(2) of the Road Transport Act 1987. “Kelantan is among the earliest states to adopt this approach of bringing offending vehicle owners directly to court in the interest of public safety and more effective enforcement of road traffic laws,” he said. About 85% of foreign nationals prosecuted under the Foreign Driver Operation in Kelantan between January and June 18 were from the Rohingya community. Monitoring and enforcement operations found that most were driving without licences, while others committed various offences under the Road Transport Act 1987.

However, he said the department has never found any Rohingya individual in possession of a valid driving licence during its enforcement operations. Instead, he said those stopped at roadblocks often produce UNHCR cards in an attempt to gain sympathy and avoid enforcement action. Mohd Misuari also dismissed claims that syndicates were helping foreign nationals obtain genuine Malaysian driving licences. “Intelligence findings show that no such syndicates or documents have been detected in Kelantan so far,” he told Bernama recently. To address the issue, Kelantan RTD has intensified enforcement operations at several hotspots, including Kota Bharu, Ketereh, Kadok, Melor, Pasir Tumboh and Tanah Merah. Statistics as of June showed that 576 vehicles belonging to foreign nationals were inspected, 457 were seized and 908

Weak road safety enforcement putting workers at risk

Lee said enforcement alone would not be enough if road infrastructure defects, poor road design, inadequate lighting and poorly maintained vehicles are not addressed simultaneously. – MASRY CHE ANI/THESUN

deaths of family breadwinners, underscoring the seriousness of the issue. He also called for stricter penalties for repeat offenders who endanger other road users, improvements in road engineering and maintenance to eliminate hazards that contribute to accidents, stronger vehicle inspections, particularly for commercial vehicles and motorcycles, as well as better data sharing among Socso, the Road Transport Department, the police and other road safety agencies to identify accident trends and risk factors. “Commuting accidents are not inevitable. Most are preventable through a combination of effective enforcement, safer roads, responsible driving behaviour and greater public awareness. “It is time to treat commuting safety as a national priority. Every life lost on the journey to or from work is one life too many. “By strengthening enforcement and adopting a more proactive approach to road safety, we can significantly reduce commuting accidents and ensure that workers arrive at their destinations safely every day.”

accidents, including fatalities, injuries, medical expenses, productivity losses and long-term disabilities.” To improve commuting safety, Lee proposed increasing the visibility and frequency of enforcement operations during peak travelling hours, while expanding the use of automated technologies such as speed cameras, red-light cameras and artificial intelligence-powered traffic monitoring systems. He also called for stricter enforcement against distracted driving, particularly the use of mobile phones behind the wheel, as well as targeted operations at accident-prone locations and high-risk commuter routes. “Employers also have a role to play by implementing commuting safety programmes, defensive driving training and flexible working arrangements that could help reduce exposure to peak-hour traffic risks.” Citing Socso data, Lee said 46,542 of the 91,456 workplace accident cases recorded in 2025 involved workers commuting to and from their workplaces. Many of the incidents involved motorcyclists and resulted in the