PUTRAJAYA: The Transport Ministry will no longer organise road safety campaign launches for each festive season starting this year.
Its minister, Anthony Loke, said removing the practice would easily save a few hundred thousand ringgit, allowing for such funds to be channelled to enhancing existing road safety campaigns that benefit the public.
"Do not get me wrong, we are not stopping the enforcement; the operation will still go on. The only thing that we are not doing is the official launching event.
"Even without these events, the Road Transport Department (RTD) operations will continue. Integrated operations will still be conducted, and the laws will still be enforced.
"There is no need for official events. To me, that is form, not substance. Just do it, go ahead with it," he told reporters after delivering the Direction for the Transport Ministry in 2024 address.
Loke disclosed that organising a launching ceremony would incur a minimum cost of RM200,000, covering expenses for food and beverage, the sound system, preparation of goodie bags, and setting up tents.
"We will use the budget for better purposes. Perhaps we could give out free helmets worth RM55 each in our helmet exchange initiative.
"We found out that many people are still using worn-out helmets," he said while highlighting the ministry's consistent receipts of thousands of deteriorated helmets during the exchange programme.
Loke said the ministry is committed to promoting road safety, intending to establish it as a cultural practice embraced by all Malaysians.
"Safety is a culture that must be implemented in every sector for everyone. Road safety is important not just to protect ourselves and our families but also for others," he said.
Citing the Value of Statistical Life (VOSL) developed by the Malaysian Institute of Road Safety (Miros) in 2018, Loke said each loss of life due to road accidents is estimated to involve financial implications of up to RM3.12 million per person.
"Based on the recorded deaths, this implies that our country loses as much as RM56.15 million per day or RM21 billion per year due to road accidents."