KUALA LUMPUR: The Road Transport Department (RTD) and the National Road Safety Council will continue and expand their helmet exchange programme to other parts of the country, including Sabah and Sarawak, next year.
Transport Minister Anthony Loke said this follows the positive response to the initiative, among the many programmes available during the Madani government's One-Year Anniversary Programme at the Bukit Jalil National Stadium here.
"This initiative has allowed Malaysian motorists to exchange their old helmets for new ones, providing them with better safety and protection.
"All that they have to do is take their old helmets and get a new one in exchange for free. This initiative received an overwhelming response from visitors at the event.
"Therefore, we will continue the initiative next year, including other parts of the country, including Sabah and Sarawak, because we know that the people who can attend this event are only those residing in the Klang Valley," he told reporters after visiting the ministry's booth at the event here today.
On a related matter, Loke said 3,000 new helmets were distributed as of today.
"We distributed 1,000 helmets on the first day of the event and another 2,000 today (Saturday).
"Following the positive response and request from the visitors here, we will add and distribute 2,000 helmets on the event's final day tomorrow (Sunday).
"It means we are distributing 5,000 helmets throughout this event," he said.