Budget 2024: Government needs to take road safety more seriously - Lee Lam Thye

SHAH ALAM - Budget 2024's RM2.8 billion allocation for maintenance and RM50 million for repairs in accident-prone areas is still insufficient to improve road safety, says Safe Community Association chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye.

Lee said the number of accidents, especially among motorcyclists, is increasing and becoming more serious daily, resulting in up to 65 per cent of deaths.

He suggested that the government identify steps to create adequate motorcycle lanes and increase safety features to reduce crashes.

"These lanes can be focused in areas that have frequent and numerous accidents involving motorcyclists," he said in a statement today.

Lee also called on the government to take the issue of hollow roads seriously and commit to resolving the problem within 24 hours of receiving complaints.

"This problem does not only affect main roads, but all roads monitored by each local authority (PBT)," he said.

He said among the specialties that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim did not touch on in the budget tabling was a special provision on road safety and awareness.

"Education on road accident prevention is important to prevent this problem from becoming more serious," he said.

Lee suggested using digital signage to display statistics and warnings to raise awareness among drivers.

He also called for education via television and online to address undesirable attitudes such as driving over the speed limit, being careless, and breaking road rules.

Meanwhile, Lee welcomed the RM563 million allocation for slopes following the tragedy in Batang Kali.

However, he expressed concern that the budget's focus on business support for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) did not prioritise safety, health, environmental, social and governance (ESG), carbon credit, and law enforcement.

"It is important to ensure that SMEs are ready for the upcoming global change," he said.

Lee also commended the government's decision to raise the excise duty on sugary beverages by 10 sen, from 40 sen to 50 sen.

"Sugar intake contributes to the worst health problems in our country.

"This proposal is timely to prevent people from taking sugary drinks and thus avoiding serious illness," he added.