Madani’s populist pitfalls: A road safety reality check

 

From Boo Jia Cher

The “Two Years of Madani Government” programme, held at KLCC from Nov 22 to 24, featured various public benefits and initiatives.

Among the highlights were a 60% discount on traffic summonses and a free helmet exchange programme where 5,000 new helmets were distributed.

While these offerings appear to benefit the rakyat, they are populist measures that divert attention from deeper systemic issues of road safety in Malaysia.

Discounts on traffic summonses, while intended as goodwill, are counter-productive.

Traffic offences like speeding and reckless driving endanger public safety, and reducing penalties risks undermining the seriousness of these violations.

This leniency may embolden repeat offenders and send mixed signals about accountability, diminishing the deterrent effect of traffic laws.

Additionally, such discounts can appear more focused on revenue collection than safety concerns, thus weakening public trust and encouraging complacency.

Instead of giving incentives for violations, the government should prioritise stricter enforcement and better traffic management to promote a culture of responsibility and road safety.

A free motorcycle helmet exchange programme is a positive initiative for promoting road safety, but is unlikely to significantly reduce motorcyclist fatalities, which remain the leading cause of road deaths in Malaysia.

While helmets can prevent severe injuries, they cannot address the root causes of fatalities, such as reckless driving, speeding and non-compliance with traffic laws.

Without tackling this risky behaviour and improving enforcement, the protective benefits of helmets are limited.

Environmental factors like potholes, poor signages and inadequate lighting also play a major role in crashes, highlighting the need for better road infrastructure.

Additionally, poorly maintained motorcycles and substandard repairs contribute to crashes, emphasising the importance of stricter vehicle inspections and roadworthiness checks.

Addressing these broader issues is essential for meaningful reductions in motorcyclist fatalities.

How to actually help the rakyat

Instead of resorting to populist measures that create an illusion of generosity — echoing tactics of previous administrations — the government should focus on addressing the root causes of Malaysia’s road safety crisis, rather than distracting the rakyat with giveaways and symbolic gestures.

Road deaths, injuries and the resulting trauma are grave issues that demand serious attention.

While the full statistics for 2024 are yet to be reported, the available data is alarming: 532,125 road crashes have been recorded so far, with 5,364 fatal crashes. Motorcyclists comprise 68% of fatalities.

On average, around 15 Malaysians lose their lives daily on the road, not accounting for those left with severe injuries or the families shattered by these tragedies.

Will the Madani government take meaningful steps to treat this as a national emergency?

Giving discounts for traffic summonses sends the wrong message, reinforcing a “tidak apa” attitude towards road safety by trivialising offences like speeding, running red lights or illegal parking.

Similarly, distributing free helmets, while well-meaning, fails to address the systemic issues driving motorcyclist deaths and injuries.

To improve road safety meaningfully, the government must prioritise stronger enforcement of traffic laws.

Automated systems such as speed and red-light cameras can ensure consistent and impartial enforcement, discouraging dangerous behaviour without straining police resources.

Infrastructure upgrades are equally critical. Repairing damaged roads, enhancing signages and redesigning hazardous intersections can prevent crashes and save lives.

Dedicated motorcycle lanes, when properly maintained, can significantly reduce collisions between motorcyclists and other vehicles.

Ensuring roadworthiness is another key area. Regular vehicle inspections can prevent crashes caused by mechanical failures.

To achieve long-term road safety, we need to adopt sustainable urban planning. This involves revitalising existing urban areas, ending urban sprawl and expanding pedestrian and cycling infrastructure.

By investing in public transportation like buses and trains, we can encourage people to shift away from private vehicles, reducing the risk of crashes, particularly in densely populated areas.

The Madani government must prioritise road safety as a critical national issue and move beyond short-sighted populism.

By implementing a comprehensive, data-driven strategy that addresses systemic problems such as poor urban planning, inadequate public transportation and weak law enforcement, the government can significantly reduce road fatalities and create a safer future for all Malaysians. - FMT

Boo Jia Cher is an FMT reader.

The views expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of MMKtT.