The transport ministry has announced that the use of speed limit device (SLD) will be mandatory for all heavy vehicles in Malaysia, with enforcement set to begin on October 1 for all heavy vehicles registered after January 1, 2015. For vehicles registered before January 1, 2015, enforcement will begin from January 1, 2026, while vehicles without an SLD already present will need to have the device installed by July next year.
Transport minister Anthony Loke said the SLD, which is a speed limit control device or system designed to limit the maximum speed of a vehicle, will prevent certain types of commercial vehicles from driving beyond the set speed limit, which in accordance with the national speed limit will be set at 90 km/h for heavy vehicles and buses.
“Manufacturers are required to standardise their SLD configurations to only allow a maximum speed of 90 km/h. Even if the road’s speed limit is higher, such as 110 km/h on highways, the SLD will still cap the vehicle’s speed at 90 km/h,” he said during a briefing on the matter earlier today. He added that on roads with lower speed limits, such as 60 km/h zones, drivers will simply need to adhere to the set limit.
He said the SLD is mandatory for goods vehicles (maximum weight exceeding 3,500 kg) and passenger vehicles (carrying more than eight passengers and having a maximum weight exceeding 5,000 kg). This will also apply to rebuild vehicles and used imported goods vehicles (maximum weight exceeding 3,500 kg).
The functionality verification of SLDs and their activation can be prepared by vehicle manufacturers/producers, workshops and technical service facilities as well as any accredited Malaysian Standards Department certification body recognised by JPJ.
Owners or operators will need to bring their respective vehicles to the approved facilities (either manufacturer or designated third-party) and activate the function via a plug in device. Following this, drivers and vehicle owners will be able to monitor data through software and the use of GPS.
Loke added that for vehicles that are not equipped with an SLD system, it will be mandatory to install a retrofit SLD device that has been approved by JPJ, with the work being carried out in workshops and technical service facilities recognised by JPJ. He said enforcement of the installation of SLDs as retrofits will begin on July 1, 2026.
He said that the verification process has to be renewed every two years and must be done at a motor vehicle inspection centre (PPKM) and when applying for or renewing a permit from the land public transport agency (APAD). Loke said the document must be carried at all times in the vehicle for enforcement purposes by JPJ.
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