JPJ says there is an exception to the safety helmet law for those wearing serban (turban) for religious purposes.
KUALA LUMPUR: Federal Territory mufti Zulkifli Mohamad al-Bakri does not need to apologise for riding a motorcycle without a helmet, the Road Transport Department (JPJ) said today.
It director general, Nadzri Siron, said Zulkifli did not commit any offence as there are exceptions in the requirement for wearing of helmets when it involved religion.
“Whoever wears a turban and if this is related to religion, then it is allowed (not to wear a helmet).
“Perhaps this issue has been spread because the mufti tendered an apology. But there is no offence committed. In fact, if there was an operation being carried out, he would have been exempted,” he told FMT today.
The Motorcycles (Safety Helmets) Rules 1973 allows flexibility for people who wear turbans, including those who have been on their haj pilgrimage, have religious ranking and those who are Sikhs.
Zulkifli had apologised in a Facebook posting yesterday, saying that he was rushing to a moon-sighting programme on the eve of Ramadan at the Kuala Lumpur Tower on Friday.
Accompanying the apology was a photograph he uploaded of himself as the pillion rider.
“It was decided that I should take a ride on the motorbike to the event as the roads were congested with traffic and I did not want to trouble the organisers and disrupt the smooth running of the programme.
“We wish to extend our apologies to the police and JPJ for our action,” he added. -FMT
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