Facilitate use of micromobility vehicles instead of banning them, says former prime minister Najib Razak

Former key minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak took to Fb to phone on the governing administration to facilitate the use of micromobility motor vehicles as a substitute of banning them.

In April, the federal government declared that selected micromobility motor vehicles would be banned from remaining utilized on roadways. The ban associated mopeds, own mobility aids (i.e. motorised wheelchairs, mobility scooters) and personalized mobility products (i.e. e-scooters, hoverboards, skateboards, kick scooters). Bicycles and e-bicycles are exempt from the ruling though users will even now will need to comply with the existing guidelines less than the Road Transport Act and Street Targeted visitors Regulations.

In his publish on the social media web-site, Najib stated that an optimum and effective relationship involving initial and very last mile connectivity was significant for the accomplishment of community transportation units these types of as buses and rail transit (LRT, KTM Komuter, Monorail, MRT).

“The use of micromobility vehicles can participate in an significant role in the good results of very first mile and final mile connectivity,” he explained. To aid the of micromobility autos, Najib prompt that the authorities impose a situation on this sort of motor vehicles that they fulfill the vital protection approvals right before they are bought in this article.

Micromobility motor vehicles refer to all those run by electricity, an internal combustion engine, or human electricity, or human energy combined with any of the earlier mentioned two, with a greatest speed of 50 km/h.

Najib reported that these autos ought to be categorised in accordance to the five in-city modes of transportation, particularly walking, cycling, motorcycle, auto and bus. In the case of more compact micromobility motor vehicles able of speeds not a lot additional than strolling, he reported these need to be authorized for use on pedestrian walkways. Meanwhile, cars that are closer to bicycles need to be authorized for use on present bicycle routes and past.

According to a report by The Sunlight, the transport ministry (MoT) is working intently with the ministry of housing and regional govt (KPKT) to draft the rules for the use of micromobility autos.

“The micromobility cars are below the purview of the MoT and as these kinds of, we have management (more than the use of the autos) on the roadways. For locations other than the roads, it is up to KPKT to create pointers in selecting wherever can these kinds of motor vehicles be employed,” mentioned Mike Chong Yew Chuan, special capabilities officer to the transportation minister.

“MoT has never carried out a total ban on the use of this kind of autos. Customers of the general public can nevertheless use them, but only at selected locations to be determined by KPKT and nearby authorities (PBT),” he added.

Najib also mentioned in his post that micromobility motor vehicle end users who act irresponsibly and disrupt other road buyers or pedestrians would be confronted with significant penalties and punishment. Najib finished by indicating that facilitating the use micromobility autos is important for the accomplishment of general public transportation, which the govt has heavily invested in to minimize site visitors congestion in the city.

Hubungan ‘first mile’ dan ‘last mile’ yang optimum, berkesan dan cekap untuk pengguna adalah sangat penting bagi…

Posted by Najib Razak on Sunday, 15 May 2022

The problem of micromobility vehicles surfaced previous yr when a viral movie on social media confirmed a gentleman using an e-scooter on a hectic general public street, leading the transport ministry to gazette the latest ban beneath the Highway Website traffic (Prohibition of Use of Sure Microbility Motor vehicles) Principles 2021, which came into influence on December 17, 2021.

Singapore adopted a similar path substantially earlier, banning the use of personalized mobility devices (PMDs) on all sidewalks in November 2019 thanks to the increase in e-scooter-relevant injuries and deaths. Even via PMDs are banned from footpaths, such gadgets can continue to be utilised on biking paths and the Park Connector Community in the state.

Do you agree with Najib’s assertion? Must the authorities aim additional on facilitating the use of micromobility cars relatively than utilizing a blanket ban? Share your thoughts in the opinions under.