Dashcams May Be A Mandatory Requirement For All Public Transport Vehicles

The Road Transport Department (JPJ) in Malaysia is considering dashboard cameras (dashcams) a mandatory feature in all public transport vehicles.

The proposal for compulsory dashcams comes after a viral incident involving an MRT feeder bus getting too close to a group of cyclists who were riding side-by-side on a narrow road, leading to a brief confrontation.

The issue was even raised directly during a public forum held in Pantai Dalam titled "Public Roads Don’t Belong to Bicycle Gangs," which was moderated by former health minister Khairy Jamaluddin. Rapid KL, the bus operator involved, has since launched an internal investigation into the matter.

Current Rules Don't Require Dashcams

Regulations set by the JPJ for public transport vehicles only require them to be fitted with a GPS system, which helps track their location.

Mohd Alifarihan Abdullah, JPJ assistant director, highlighted this gap at the forum, stating, "The licences and conditions for public vehicles are only GPS and is why having dashcams compulsory is a good idea but for now it’s only mandatory to have a GPS."

Hopefully, big changes are on the horizon. The Land Public Transport Agency (APAD) is actively working to update its safety guidelines, according to FMT. These new guidelines will be incorporated into the Land Public Transport (Safety Management) Regulations.