JPJ extends speed limiter deadline for rebuilt vehicles, stressing safety standards while balancing enforcement with industry realities.
SLD Deadline Moved from January 1 to July 1, 2026
The Road Transport Department of Malaysia (JPJ), through a letter dated September 17, 2025, has announced the deadline extension for Speed Limitation Devices (SLD) enforcement on rebuilt commercial vehicles from January 1 to July 1, 2026.
Rebuilt vehicles are used trucks and buses imported from right-hand-drive markets such as the United Kingdom and Japan. The units are refurbished and then sold into the Malaysian market.
Following a deadly crash that claimed the lives of 15 UPSI students, Transport Minister Anthony Loke announced in June 2025 that SLDs would be mandatory for all commercial vehicles in three phases:
– Phase 1, starting October 1, involves mandatory verification of SLD functionality for all commercial vehicles manufactured after January 1, 2015.
– Phase 2, effective from January 1, 2026, involves the activation of SLD via the Electronic Control Unit (ECU) for vehicles built before January 1, 2015.
– Phase 3, which begins July 1, 2026, will require retrofit installation of approved SLD units on commercial vehicles not yet equipped with the system.
Rebuilt commercial vehicles fall into the second category, which means that originally, the deadline was set for January 1, 2026. However, following some concerns raised by the Commercial Vehicles Rebuilders Association Malaysia (CVRAM), the JPJ decided to extend the deadline.
Concerns for rebuilt vehicles include difficulties in sourcing suitable software for multiple variants, the absence of manufacturer support in Malaysia for system verification, and how retrofitting requires more time to ensure proper installation and reliability.
According to JPJ‘s official memo, the deadline extension gives operators time to complete retrofits without compromising safety standards. Meanwhile, during the transition, operators are expected to install SLDs progressively across their fleets, with JPJ expecting monthly updates.
JPJ said that this decision balances regulatory enforcement with on-the-ground realities. The agency stressed that the extension does not dilute the government’s objective to enforce maximum speed limits for commercial vehicles nationwide.
