Act 333 Amended To Support Development In Country's Automotive Sector

KUALA LUMPUR, March 10 (Bernama) – The Transport Ministry has gazetted the latest amendments to the Motor Vehicle (Construction and Use) Rules under the Transport Act 1987 to ensure national legislation remains aligned with technological advancements and supports innovation in the country's automotive sector.

Deputy Minister of Transport, Datuk Hasbi Habibollah, said the amendments were made in 2024 to incorporate technical regulations related to the construction and use of Autonomous Vehicles (AVs), Electric Vehicles (EVs), and Energy-Efficient Vehicles (EEVs).

"For the adoption of smart vehicle technology, including AVs, the ministry, in collaboration with automotive industry players, has conducted a series of AV tests based on the Guidelines for Testing Autonomous Driving Vehicles on Roads developed by the Ministry of Transport and Futurise.

"Through these tests, technical findings, test results, and stakeholder feedback will be thoroughly analysed to ensure that regulatory developments for this technology are comprehensive and aligned with industry needs," he said during the question and answer session at the Dewan Negara today.

He was responding to a question by Senator Datuk Dr Ahmad Azam Hamzah regarding the ministry’s plans to explore technologies such as self-driving cars and driverless train systems, as well as the preparations made for their adoption.

Hasbi stated that the guidelines were designed to ensure that AV testing in Malaysia is conducted safely, and in compliance with existing legislation while emphasising clear reporting and control measures.

"They also outline the technical requirements that must be met, including vehicle component specifications, AV safety systems, and prescribed testing procedures," he said.

-- BERNAMA