KUALA LUMPUR: The proposal to limit the speed of low-capacity motorcycles, better known as ‘kapcai’, to 70kph needs to be studied first because its implementation would involve about 10 million registered motorcycle owners, said Transport Minister Anthony Loke.
He said the study should cover safety and various other aspects and how far it could be implemented.
‘’We are aware there is a proposal to limit the speed of kapcai, but with the situation in Malaysia, it needs a very big approval as it involves many kapcai owners in the country.
‘’Maybe it involves 10 million motorcycle owners. So, this is a decision which will have a big impact. I am not rejecting the proposal but in terms of practicality, it must be viewed from numerous angles,’’ he said here today.
In August, Works Minister Baru Bian was reported as saying that the recommendation to impose a speed limit for kapcai could not be implemented yet as it needed time for a thorough study.
The Safety First Group, a road pro-safety group, had urged the government to enforce the 70kph speed limit for kapcai and provide more dedicated motorcycle lanes to reduce accidents involving them.
Commenting on the call for motorcycle lanes on the left of road, Loke said it would be submitted to the Economic Affairs Ministry to make it part of the 12th Malaysia Plan.
He said it was a good proposal but its implementation required high expenditure as it involved building road structures.
‘’We hope we can build special motorcycle lanes and also provide highway designs in future which take the matter into account.’’
