Fomca backs mandating dashcams in private vehicles

PETALING JAYA: The Federation of Malaysian Consumers Associations (Fomca) says it is in favour of any move to encourage or mandate private vehicles to install dashboard cameras, or “dashcams”.

Its chief operating officer Nur Asyikin Aminuddin stated that the device is now seen as a necessity following the rise in dangerous drivers, Bernama reported.

“It is worth considering because dashcams have become a necessity given that there are increasingly more reckless, aggressive, and impatient drivers on the road. This, in turn, increases the risk of accidents and disputes when incidents occur,” she was quoted as saying.

Such a policy would also complement the government’s efforts to foster a more prudent driving culture through incentives for drivers with clean records, including additional discounts on insurance premiums.

According to Nur Asyikin, dashcam footage can serve as objective evidence to protect law-abiding road users.

“It also helps reduce the risk of fraud or attempts to distort facts by guilty parties, while also assisting authorities in investigations and expediting the insurance claims process,” she said.

She added that the footage would help insurance companies as they would have stronger evidence to determine liability, thereby protecting innocent victims from being wrongfully blamed for an accident.

“We view the use of dashcams as an increasingly vital piece of equipment to protect consumer rights, especially during road accident conflicts,” Nur Asyikin said.

However, she noted that any proposal to mandate dashcam installation must be thoroughly examined by taking into account the views of all stakeholders, including the police, the road transport department (JPJ), insurance companies, vehicle manufacturers, and consumers themselves.

“Every policy introduced will undoubtedly have implications for various parties, whether in terms of cost, enforcement, insurance claim management, personal data protection, or consumer rights,” she said.

Nur Asyikin added that Fomca also believes that any effort to expand dashcam usage should be implemented progressively so as not to burden consumers, particularly low-income groups.

Transport minister Loke Siew Fook was previously reported to have said that the government was still studying the proposal to mandate dashcams in all vehicles, as it must consider various implications, including the cost to the public and its operational effectiveness.