SEREMBAN: An additional 10,000 secondary school students from poor families will be able to apply for free motorcycle licences under the government’s MyLesen B2 programme this year, says Anthony Loke (pic).
The Transport Minister said the decision to add to the 15,000 spots initially approved for this year was due to overwhelming response.
“Under Budget 2025, the government had agreed to bear the cost to provide a free Class B2 motorcycle licence for 15,000 Form Four and Five students from B40 families.
“However, I have been told that in the first six months of this year, 14,581 students, or 97% from the quota allocated, have already participated in the programme,” he told reporters after handing over the B2 licences to students here.
He said the additional 10,000 spots will cost the Transport Ministry another RM3.5mil.
The cost of obtaining the licence is RM350 per participant.
The cost, he said, will be borne by the ministry through its various initiatives.
Loke, who is also Seremban MP, said of the 10,000 additional spots, 1,000 will be reserved for Negri Sembilan as the ministry had received an overwhelming response from applicants here.
Separately, Loke advised school authorities to check if students who rode motorcycles had a valid licence.
“We need to get schools to provide us with the information as we want to help students from B40 families obtain a licence.
“Any student who rides into the school compound must be asked to provide such details,” he said.
Loke reiterated that this was not to penalise the students but to help the Road Transport Department identify and provide licences for those eligible.
Asked if the ministry would revoke the licences of those who benefited from the programme but participated in illegal racing or committed other traffic violations, Loke said he supported the move.
“We are giving them free licences because our intention is to help them. So, if they are involved in other undesirable activities on the road, then we will revoke the licences,” he said.
Loke added this was important as they would not only be endangering their lives but also other road users.
