All must work together to cancel that noise, says Wee

PETALING JAYA: The issue of motorcycle exhaust pipes being modified to create a loud noise should be looked into collectively by all relevant agencies instead of just one ministry, says Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong (pic).

The Transport Minister said the ecosystem of these illegal modifications needed to be addressed.

“Some say loud exhausts should be banned but it may not come under the Transport Ministry’s jurisdiction as it could involve the Customs Department and such, ” he said.

Dr Wee acknowledged that questions were raised on social media over the sale of modified motorcycle exhausts recently, with accusations levelled at several ministries.

“Some people questioned how these exhausts entered the market and accused the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry of not stopping the sale of such prohibited items, ” he said after launching the Diesel Multiple Unit (DMU) train at the Pasir Mas railway station in Kelantan yesterday.

Dr Wee added that the sale of items that allowed such modifications did not fall under the ministry’s jurisdiction.

As such, he suggested a collective effort by the relevant ministries to find the best way of tackling the issue.

“We don’t want to trouble the people but there are complaints that the loud sound from these exhausts is causing some to lose sleep, ” he said.

He reiterated that the Road Transport Department (JPJ) was currently taking only an advocacy approach.

On March 28, Dr Wee said that motorcyclists with loud exhausts would be called up for interviews by the JPJ instead of issued with summonses under Notice 114 of the Road Transport Act.

Motorcyclists who are guilty of illegally modifying their motorcycle exhausts can face a maximum fine of RM2,000 or six months’ jail.

The police are also empowered under Section 64 of the Road Transport Act 1987 to seize motorcycles to prevent a repeat of the offence.