Anti-lock brake system (ABS) is mandatory for motorcycles 150cc and above starting January 1, 2025.

That’s what the Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia, Datuk Seri Dr. Ahmad Zahid Hamidi when speaking at the Launching Ceremony of the Asian Road Safety Conference (CARS) 2024 yesterday.

According to him, the government took this initiative considering that the majority of road accidents involve motorcycle riders and pillion riders.

“Let’s start by making motorcyclists safer because 65 percent of the total road deaths last year involved motorcyclists.

“So starting January 1, 2025, all new motorcycles with an engine capacity of 150cc and above must be equipped with ABS,” he said.

Also present at the ceremony were the Minister of Transport, Anthony Loke and the Minister of Human Resources, Steven Sim.

Ahmad Zahid said the government decided on the matter because based on a World Health Organization (WHO) report, ABS was able to reduce the rate of fatal accidents by 31 percent.

“Malaysia is one of the countries in Southeast Asia facing this issue. Although the death rate per 100,000 people decreased from 27 percent in 2000 to 22.5 percent in 2019, it remains one of the highest in the world.

“So I am confident that this initiative will reduce the death rate due to road accidents in Malaysia,” he said.

He also hopes that the initiative involved can be an inspiration to other ASEAN countries to implement similar measures to make motorcycles a safe vehicle to use.

In addition, Ahmad Zahid suggested that the Motorcycle Assessment Program in Malaysia (MyMAP) be implemented in all ASEAN or Asian countries.

He said, MyMAP, which gives a rating to motorcycles based on the vehicle’s standards, is able to give users an advantage to make an evaluation before buying the vehicle.

“So far, MyMAP has evaluated 28 types of motorcycle models produced by seven manufacturing companies and these vehicles have been given a ‘star’ rating,” he said.