Road accidents cost Malaysia up to RM30 billion a year in socio-economic losses.
Works Minister Alexander Nanta Linggi told the Cabinet’s road safety and congestion committee the figure covers lost productivity, medical bills and wider social impacts. Last year, Malaysia recorded 6,537 road deaths —…
Source: Free Malaysia Today · August 17, 2026 at 6:52 AM · AI-assisted report
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KUALA LUMPUR, 17 AUGUST 2026 —
Works Minister Alexander Nanta Linggi told the Cabinet’s road safety and congestion committee the figure covers lost productivity, medical bills and wider social impacts. Last year, Malaysia recorded 6,537 road deaths — an average of 18 a day — with 80.6% of accidents linked to human error.
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“However, despite all these calculations, the loss of life still cannot be valued in ringgit,” Nanta Linggi said in an X post. He added that the RM30 billion figure, presented at a meeting chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, reflects more than an economic cost.
Nanta Linggi said road safety requires a comprehensive approach beyond repairs. “It needs education, stricter enforcement, smart technology and roads designed to reduce risk and minimise human error,” he said. “We do not want to merely repair roads after accidents occur.”
The ministry will prioritise designs that anticipate driver mistakes, rather than fixing potholes after crashes, he said. Malaysia’s toll remains high despite global best practices such as automated speed enforcement and rumble strips, which cut fatal crashes in other countries.
Policy analysts say the RM30 billion figure may understate the true cost. Lost future earnings, unpaid care work and long-term trauma are rarely captured in national accounts, leaving most losses unaccounted for.