Anthony Loke: Vehicles With Outstanding Summonses Will Soon Be Barred From Leaving or Entering Malaysia

Vehicle owners with outstanding fines or unresolved legal cases may soon face restrictions on cross-border travel under proposed amendments to the Road Transport Act 1987.

Tabling the amendments in the Dewan Rakyat, Transport Minister Anthony Loke confirmed that the Director-General of the Road Transport Department (JPJ), JPJ officers, and police officers would be empowered to prevent both Malaysian and foreign vehicles from entering or leaving the country.

Settle all outstanding fines before cross-border travel

The new Section 119C broadens the scope of the current legislation to include Malaysian-registered motor vehicles undertaking cross-border journeys.

“It is intended to ensure that vehicle owners settle all outstanding fines and pending cases before undertaking cross-border journeys.

“This includes traffic summonses, court cases, and various violations of road transport laws,” Loke said while tabling the Road Transport (Amendment) Bill 2026 for its second reading in the Dewan Rakyat on Tuesday (23 June).

The proposed new section 119c of the road transport act 1987

He added that the amendment also aims to combat the misuse of cloned or stolen vehicles, while simultaneously improving the settlement rate of outstanding fines. According to the Transport Minister, the move will enhance enforcement effectiveness and curb abuses, including the use of vehicles that fail to comply with legal requirements.

Maximum compound rate offences increased to RM500

Under the Bill, the government is also planning to increase the maximum compound rate for traffic offences from RM300 to RM500 under Section 120(1), effective 1 January 2029.

Taking into account the future enforcement date, Loke noted that the transition period would serve to raise public awareness and encourage better road discipline.

Among the offences subject to the new compound rate are the improper display of registration numbers, using a vehicle without a valid motor vehicle licence, and driving without a valid driving licence.

What do you think of the proposed amendments?

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