Dashcams now a necessity on Malaysian roads, says FOMCA

KUALA LUMPUR - The Federation of Malaysian Consumers Associations (FOMCA) supports the proposal for the government and authorities to mandate or encourage the installation of dashboard cameras, or "dashcams," in private vehicles.

FOMCA Chief Operating Officer Nur Asyikin Aminuddin stated that the device is now seen as a necessity following the rise in dangerous drivers.

"It is worth considering because dashcams have become a necessity given that there are increasingly more reckless, aggressive, and impatient drivers on the road. This, in turn, increases the risk of accidents and disputes when incidents occur," she said.

The move aligns with the government's efforts to foster a more prudent driving culture through incentives for drivers with clean records, including additional discounts on insurance premiums.

According to her, dashcam footage can serve as objective evidence to protect law-abiding road users. It helps reduce the risk of fraud or attempts to distort facts by guilty parties, while also assisting authorities in investigations and expediting the insurance claims process.

She added that the footage could also accelerate the insurance claim assessment process, as insurance companies would have stronger evidence to determine liability, thereby protecting innocent victims from being wrongfully blamed for an accident.

"We view the use of dashcams as an increasingly vital necessity to protect consumer rights, especially during road accident conflicts," she said.

However, she noted that any proposal to mandate dashcam installation must be thoroughly examined by taking into account the views of all stakeholders, including the Royal Malaysia Police, the Road Transport Department, insurance companies, vehicle manufacturers, and consumers themselves.

"Every policy introduced will undoubtedly have implications for various parties, whether in terms of cost, enforcement, insurance claim management, personal data protection, or consumer rights," she stated.

She said FOMCA also believes that any effort to expand dashcam usage should be implemented progressively so as not to burden consumers, particularly low-income groups.

Last Tuesday, lawyer M. Partiben urged the government to study the need to mandate or encourage the installation of the device in private vehicles as an authentic source of digital evidence to aid investigations into accidents and street crimes, as well as to expedite legal proceedings in court.

Earlier, Transport Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook had said that the government was still studying the proposal to mandate dashcams in all vehicles, as it must consider various implications, including the cost to the public and its operational effectiveness. - BERNAMA