ALOR SETAR, MALAYSIA - Six million motorcyclists were issued B2 licences by the Road Transport Department (RTD) last year although the number of motorcycles registered was 8.4 million.

Department director-general Datuk Solah Mat Hassan said this was due to the high cost involved in obtaining the licence which saw a large number of motorcyclists, especially from the rural areas, riding their machines without a valid licence.

'The reason they give for not having a licence is the high price they have to pay to obtain the licence,' he told reporters after meeting Kedah department officers yesterday.

Solah said the reduction in cost to obtain a B2 motorcycle licence from between RM500 and RM700 to RM211 effective September as announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak would help people living in the rural areas, including school children and elderly people, obtain the licence.

Solah was commenting on the move to reduce the cost of obtaining a B2 motorcycle licence announced by Najib to mark his 100th day in office on Saturday.

He said the reduced cost would include cost for theory and practical classes conducted by driving institutions from RM400 to RM166 and also the cost for B2 learner (L) driving licence from RM20 to RM2 only.

'Although the price for the licence is reduced, the department will still maintain the training hours required to obtain the licence, including six hours for theory and practical, for L licence, eight hours for practical training and two hours for pre-examination class.'

Solah said a total of 200,000 people applied for B2 motorcycle licences yearly.

He also said last year a total of 5,974 people died in road accident cases in the country of which 3,898 deaths involved motorcyclists and pillion riders.

Solah said he would be visiting department offices nationwide to check on the counter services following complaints from public. The complaints were received via RTD's website aduan@jpj.gov.my.