Kuala nerus: A road safety activist has called on all parties, including the government, authorities, and organisers of the RXZ Members programme, to implement a comprehensive risk management plan following the rise in road fatalities and accidents during the annual gathering. Shahrim Tamrin, a former board member of the Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (MIROS), emphasized the need for a thorough plan that covers participant projections, entry and exit route planning, designated rest areas, ambulance deployment, an emergency response centre, a communications plan, and a pre-event risk assessment.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the trend over the past three years, with two deaths in 2024, five in 2025, and 11 in 2026, indicates a worsening pattern of incidents at the event. The RXZ Members programme, now one of the largest motorcycle gatherings in Malaysia, attracts hundreds of thousands of participants nationwide. Shahrim stated that given its scale, the event's safety management must transition from conventional enforcement to a comprehensive risk management exercise tailored for large-scale events.
Bukit Aman Traffic Investigation and Enforcement Department director Datuk Seri Muhammed Hasbullah Ali reported 46 road accidents involving motorcyclists over the four-day RXZ Members 8.0 programme, with 11 fatal accidents, five serious accidents, and 30 minor accidents. The event, held at the Gong Badak Motor Racing Circuit in Kuala Nerus, drew over 200,000 participants, marking it as the largest edition since 2017.
Shahrim proposed a post-event safety audit to assess road accidents, locations, causes, motorcycle-related factors, and enforcement effectiveness. He suggested that the audit report be published before the next event to facilitate evidence-based improvements. He also urged authorities to enforce noise and exhaust emission standards due to local complaints about excessive noise and smoke.
Additionally, Shahrim recommended the Road Transport Department (JPJ) review re-registration processes for roadworthy Yamaha RXZ motorcycles with documentation issues, subject to inspection by the Computerised Vehicle Inspection Centre (Puspakom). He noted that some of these motorcycles, often modified, face ownership record issues, stressing that those compromising safety should be restored to original specifications or not registered.
He also suggested collaboration between police, JPJ, RXZ clubs, and programme organisers to train marshals and group leaders on safe convoy movement. Furthermore, he recommended travel advisory measures, akin to those by highway concessionaires during festive seasons, to inform participants about peak travel periods, alternative routes, and recommended rest stops.