PEV Malaysia: eScooters are not banned, guidelines to be discussed and refined

A week ago, the police announced that they will start imposing fines on individuals on eScooters that ride on public roads starting 1 January 2021. Today, the Personal Electric Vehicle Association (PEV Malaysia) announced that they have been in talks with the Road Transport Department (JPJ) to discuss the scooter regulation.

In last week’s announcement, Kuala Lumpur Traffic Enforcement and Investigation Department chief ACP Zulkefly Yahya said his department had been receiving many complaints from the public of eScooters on the road. He also mentioned that riders would need to apply for a special permission licence from the director-general of JPJ if they wished to use the vehicle on the road.

PEV Malaysia then met up with JPJ on 16 December to “seek enlightenment and resolution of the issue of micro-mobility vehicles on the road”. The meeting clarified the issue—stating that JPJ “did not make any official statements of banning micro-mobility vehicles at the moment”.

“The use of micro-mobility vehicles has preceded existing policies and should be discussed by policy makers,” wrote Edi Kushairy Bin Ab Kadir, President of PEV Malaysia.

They also clarified that while there are no special licences issued yet by JPJ for eScooters at this time, the matter needs to be “further discussed and refined so as not to burden any party”. The issue of eScooter licences was originally brought up by ACP Zulkefly Yahya—who said that riders will need to apply for a special permission licence from the director-general of JPJ.

PEV Malaysia will also be discussing the issue through several more meetings with JPJ, Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM), Ministry of Local Government Development (KPKT), Local Authorities (PBT) and Malaysia Institute of Safety Research (MIROS). JPJ will then make an announcement following the continued discussions.

Micro-mobility riders can still ride around, but only in gazetted areas like playgrounds and permitted areas around shopping centres, according to the police. PEV Malaysia also advised riders to “comply with the existing act”.

While there’s a need to regulate micro-mobility devices for safety reasons, Malaysian authorities have yet to issue clear guidelines after the latest Road Transport (Amendment) Bill 2020 came into effect. In Singapore, eScooters are only permitted at cycling paths and park connectors with a speed limit of 25km/h. However, it is banned from footpaths and public roads.

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