PETALING JAYA: The minimum age for obtaining a motorcycle licence should be raised to 18 to help curb illegal street racing among minors.
Malaysian Road Safety Research Institute (Miros) chairman Prof Dr Wong Shaw Voon said the issue of underage motorcyclists requires serious attention, as children as young as 12 are riding without a licence.
He said these minors include primary and secondary school students exposed to accident risks and illegal racing activities.
"The reality on the ground is that many minors, from primary to secondary school students, begin riding motorcycles without a licence as early as age 12.
"Therefore, the minimum age to obtain a motorcycle licence should be raised to 18 to help curb illegal racing among youths," he said.
It was reported that 'mat rempit' activities and illegal racing, including reckless motorcycle riding, are now punishable with fines up to RM10,000 following the enforcement of the Road Transport (Amendment) Act 2026.
The amendments to the Road Transport Act 1987 (Act 333) also aim to curb "tonto" syndicate activities, alongside strengthening enforcement and digitalising Road Transport Department services.
However, Wong said that while raising the minimum age to 18 or 21 is a positive step, it will have little impact if lawbreakers are left unchecked.
He added that all parties, including parents, must play their role rather than leaving the responsibility entirely to the government.
"Many minors are already riding motorcycles without a licence as early as age 12.
"This group does not care whether the age limit is raised because they are already riding illegally. If this group is not addressed first, any age amendment will yield no results.
"Breaking the law at a young age is deeply worrying as it erodes respect for the law and authorities," he said.
Meanwhile, Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport Malaysia (CILTM) president Prof Dr Muhammad Zaly Shah Muhammad Hussein said proposals to raise the minimum age from 16 should be studied using offender data before being treated as a primary solution.
"Raising the age limit could potentially reduce young riders' exposure to road risks if they comply. However, reducing accidents and curbing mat rempit activities are two outcomes that must be evaluated separately.
"That is why we need offender data before determining how far this measure will help. We do not yet have a sufficient basis to promise a specific percentage reduction," he said.
He added that any age limit increase must be backed by evidence showing that safety benefits outweigh the impact on educational access.
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