The Road Transport Department (JPJ) has announced that starting next week, foreigners must undergo the same procedures as Malaysians to obtain a Malaysian driving license.
In a statement, JPJ director-general Datuk Aedy Fadly Ramli said that the application process to convert foreign driving licenses to a Malaysian driving license will cease on 19 May.
Starting on 19 May, foreign nationals can no longer convert their foreign driving license to a Malaysian one
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Aedy asserted that this change is part of JPJ’s efforts to strengthen governance, raise the quality of public service delivery and improve road safety.
Furthermore, the new initiative aims to enhance compliance among foreign nationals with road safety standards in Malaysia.
However, the JPJ director-general elaborated that the new ruling doesn’t apply to certain categories of applicants.
Certain categories of foreigners are exempted from the new ruling
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Those who can still convert their foreign driving license to a Malaysian one include individuals in the diplomatic corps and participants of the Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H) programme.
Additionally, Malaysian citizens who had obtained a foreign driving license before holding a Malaysian one are also not affected by the ruling.
Meanwhile, foreign nationals residing in Malaysia for less than 12 months are subject to specific conditions.
For countries that are parties to the Geneva Convention on Road Traffic 1949 and the Vienna Convention on Road Traffic 1968, individuals may drive using an International Driving Permit (IDP) issued by the relevant authority in their home country.
For nationals of ASEAN countries, individuals may use their respective nations’ driving licences, in accordance with the 1985 Agreement on the Recognition of Domestic Driving Licences Issued by ASEAN Countries.
So, what do you guys think of this change? Share your thoughts with us in the comments!
