KLUANG: A total of 243 applications have been submitted for the Special Transition Programme for class B1 and B2 licence holders to upgrade to class B (for high-powered motorcycles) since Oct 1.
Deputy Transport Minister Datuk Hasbi Habibollah said the Road Transport Department (RTD) expects the number to continue to rise.
"Class B1 and B2 licence holders can submit their applications and register at the driving institutes listed by RTD, which will be updated from time to time.
"To date, 3.33 million of the 9.32 million class B1 and B2 licence holders are eligible to register at 139 driving institutes nationwide," he said after the "Safe Community on the Road" programme in Felda Ulu Belitong, Kluang, today (Oct 8).
Also present were the state committee on Public Works, Transport, Infrastructure and Communication chairman Mohamad Fazli Mohamad Salleh, and RTD director-general Datuk Aedy Fadly Ramli.
The requirements for the programme, which began on Oct 1, were relaxed immediately following public complaints about their ineligibility to participate.
Transport Minister Anthony Loke said one of the conditions for the programme was that individuals must have held an active class B1 or B2 for at least 10 consecutive years.
Meanwhile, the Section 4.3 stretch of Jalan Kota Tinggi-Kluang has been identified as one of the high-risk accident areas in Johor.
Hasbi said the location was included in last year's list of accident-prone areas issued by the Public Works Department.
He said a total of 104 settlers were involved in road accidents in the area from 2022 to last year.
"Based on the data shared by the Felda Ulu Belitong office, this figure is very concerning, and it is clear that road safety needs to be enhanced among the local community.
"Road users must be educated to practise safe driving and obey traffic laws," he said.