JOHOR BAHRU, Nov 3 — A 19-year-old Singaporean man was among three individuals fined RM3,500 each under the newly amended law against illegal racing by the Magistrate’s Court here today.

The three, Syajahan Alfian Abdullah, 19; Muhammad Daniel Hakim Mohamad Rashid, 24; and Gonzales Mckhovic anak George, 18, pleaded guilty to engaging in illegal racing and riding their motorcycles in a dangerous manner on the Second Link Expressway last month.

They entered their guilty pleas after the charges were read out to them individually before Magistrate Nur Fatin Mohamad Farid.

The court also ordered all three to serve four months in prison if they failed to pay their fines.

According to the charge sheet, Singaporean national serviceman Syajahan Alfian was accused of riding a motorcycle at high speed and participating in a speed contest at Kilometre 12.5 of the southbound section of the Second Link Expressway at 2.10am on October 18.

He was charged under Section 42A(2) of the Road Transport Act 1987, as amended in 2026, which carries a fine of between RM2,000 and RM10,000, imprisonment for up to two years, or both, upon conviction.

Meanwhile, Muhammad Daniel Hakim and Gonzales Mckhovic were each charged with racing their motorcycles on the northbound section of the Second Link Expressway between Kilometres 7.8 and 18.2 at 2.10am on October 18.

Both men were charged under Section 42A(1) of the same Act, which carries a fine of between RM2,000 and RM10,000, imprisonment for up to two years, or both.

The case was prosecuted by traffic police prosecuting officer Inspector S. Vikineswary, while all three accused were unrepresented.

The Road Transport (Amendment) Act 2026, which came into effect on October 16, introduced harsher penalties for illegal racing and reckless motorcycle riding through the inclusion of Section 42A.

The Transport Ministry said the amendments to the Road Transport Act 1987 (Act 333) were intended to enhance road safety, strengthen enforcement and modernise service delivery by the Road Transport Department (JPJ).

The amendments also aim to close legal loopholes that could allow certain parties to evade responsibility for offences committed using their vehicles.