Dashcam okay if it does not affect vehicle’s safety

MOTORISTS can install aftermarket dashboard cameras (dashcams) as long as the gadget does not affect vehicle safety system.

Deputy Transport Minister Hasbi Habibollah said there was no restriction for motorists to submit footage from dashcams as evidence to the authorities.

“It will go through the normal court process, including checking, technical inspections and verification to ensure the authenticity of the (footage).

“It is up to the courts if they want to accept or reject it as evidence, ” he said, replying to Syed Ibrahim Syed Noh (PH-Ledang) who asked about the government’s stance and plan in making dashcams compulsory as a basic accessory in every vehicle.

Hasbi said the government took note that the usage of such cameras could help various enforcement agencies in conducting investigations into road accidents or other criminal cases.

He, however, said the ministry has no plan to make the installation of dashcams compulsory.

“There are a few important matters that should be looked into by the ministry.

“This includes the absence of specific international or local standards in the installation of these cameras on the dashboards of the vehicles, ” he said.

The Health Ministry, meanwhile, is seeking some revenue from cigarette taxes to fund efforts to help smokers quit the habit, said Datuk Seri Dr Adham Baba.

“We are in talks with the Ministry of Finance on the matter.

“This is because apart from the assistance in the form of counselling from non-governmental organisations, revenue from the cigarette taxes should also be used to bear the treatment cost of those seeking to quit smoking, ” he said when answering a question by Datuk Seri Dr Mujahid Yusof Rawa (PH-Parit Buntar).

Dr Adham said currently there were about 4.8 million smokers in the country representing 21% of the total population.

“Of this, some 48% or 2.3 million want to quit but only 22,000 have successfully done so under the MQuit programme.

“Last year, a total of 22,601 smokers had registered under the programme compared to 10,240 in 2017.

“The numbers of those treated had dropped last year to 9,222 owing to an increase in the treatment cost, ” he said, adding that some RM2mil was spent in 2018 and RM2.8mil last year to treat the smokers under the programme.

On those seeking to quit smoking during the Covid-19 pandemic, Dr Adham said 3,442 smokers visited the ministry’s website between Jan 1 and Oct 21 compared to 1,678 last year.

He said 3,254 or 95% of them had registered for help.