KUALA LUMPUR: The morning sun had barely risen over the capital when motorists began streaming into the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, eager to join the helmet exchange programme at the Two Years Madani Government (2TM) event.
The Road Transport Department (RTD) booth buzzed with activity as riders from various backgrounds patiently queued to receive new safety helmets.
Private sector employee Azuwin Ab Hamid couldn't hide his excitement.
"This initiative is a blessing. It's not every day you get to upgrade your safety gear for free," he said, inspecting his new helmet.
Fikri, who had been waiting since 9.30am, said he missed the last exchange programme because he wasn't aware of it.
"This time, the organisation was thoughtful, with priority given to elderly riders," he said.
Angela, a work-from-home professional who brought her family, praised the efficient process.
"The queue moved surprisingly fast, even though I arrived at 9.30am," she said, adding that she found out about the initiative on Facebook.
To educate participants, the RTD set up displays comparing Sirim-certified helmets with substandard ones.
The three-day programme aims to distribute 5,000 helmets to eligible riders. While the department also provided on-site summons payment services, they stood firm on requiring full payment without discounts.