Road Transport Act amendments now in force; illegal street racing is an offence
Malaysia’s Road Transport (Amendment) Act 2026 came into force on October 16, 2026. The law now makes racing or speed-testing on public roads a specific offence, alongside other changes on digitalisation, enforcement and penalties.
Malaysia’s Transport Ministry says the Road Transport (Amendment) Act 2026 has come into force on October 16, 2026. The amendments were passed in Parliament on June 24 and cover 42 clauses in total.
One of the main changes is a new Section 42A, which makes racing or testing speed on public roads a specific offence. Authorities can now take action without waiting for a crash, injury or death to happen.
For a first conviction, offenders face a fine of RM2,000 to RM10,000, up to two years in jail, or both. For a second or later conviction, the penalty rises to RM5,000 to RM20,000, imprisonment of up to five years, or both.
The updated law also introduces new offences for so-called “tonto” activity, strengthens registered-owner responsibility for camera-detected offences, supports electronic licences and digital accident reporting, and tightens rules on vehicle safety and falsified vehicle documents. The maximum compound limit for compoundable offences will rise from RM300 to RM500 from January 1, 2029.
What it means for you: street racing on public roads is now a clearly defined offence, so workshops and drivers should avoid any illegal speed runs or modifications linked to racing use.
Source: paultan.org
