From RM85 to RM30: Government picks up the health check tab for truckers to keep roads safe

KUALA LUMPUR, June 30 — Effective July 1, commercial vehicle drivers in Malaysia will be eligible for a subsidised medical examination when they renew their vocational licence annually.

Currently, drivers are required to pay RM85 for the medical evaluation.

However, under the new Pemandu Sihat dan Selamat initiative, they will only have to pay RM30 while the government bears the remaining RM55 through the Social Security Organisation (Socso).

Announcing the initiative today, Transport Minister Anthony Loke said it will involve about 30,000 drivers aged between 40 and 59, as well as 500 participating clinics in the initial phase running from July to December.

Loke said the initiative, implemented under Budget 2026, costs RM12.4 million, comprising RM7 million from Socso, while the Transport Ministry will bear the remaining RM5.4 million.

“Statistics from Socso offers us a stark reminder.

“Fatalities involving commercial vehicle drivers increased by 22.3 per cent to 115 cases in 2025 compared to only 94 cases in the previous year,” Loke said before launching the initiative at the Kuala Lumpur Road Transport Department here today.

Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri R. Ramanan was also present at the event.

Besides supporting comprehensive medical screening, Loke said the new programme will also digitally integrate drivers’ medical records between the Transport Ministry, the Human Resources Ministry, Socso, the Road Transport Department and the Malaysian Medical Association to make the process more efficient and transparent.