malaysiang
KUALA LUMPUR: Motor vehicles powered by Natural Gas for Vehicles (NGV) will no longer be permitted for registration or licensing for use on Malaysian roads starting from July 1, 2025, Transport Minister Anthony Loke announced today. He stated that the Cabinet made this decision on Oct 2 to prioritize the safety of users and the public, particularly owners of NGV-powered vehicles.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Loke explained that NGV tanks in vehicles modified or installed with kits from 1995 to 2014 have reached the end of their lifespan. These tanks have a safe usage lifespan of approximately 15 years, and if not replaced, they could pose risks of injury, death, and severe property damage due to potential failure. He also warned about the dangers of using cooking gas (LPG) cylinders in vehicles, which have led to previous incidents of accidents and explosions, as they cannot withstand the high pressures that NGV tanks are designed for.
Loke emphasized that replacing components with genuine parts is cos
tly, often exceeding RM7,000 per vehicle, and that original NGV spare parts are either unavailable or difficult to source locally. He noted that some owners are resorting to second-hand tanks or unapproved modifications, which pose significant safety risks.
The minister highlighted that there are two categories of NGV-powered vehicles in Malaysia: petrol-powered vehicles modified for NGV use and imported vehicles specifically using NGV. Data from the Road Transport Department (JPJ) indicates that over 95 percent of registered NGV vehicles are in the first category. Currently, there are 44,383 active NGV-registered vehicles in Malaysia, including taxis, rental cars, privately registered vehicles, buses, trucks, and other units, accounting for only 0.2 percent of the total registered motor vehicles in the country.
Loke also mentioned that between 2008 and 2024, six incidents involving NGV vehicles were reported, including a tragic case in Bangkok in 2024, where a school bus fire caused by an illegal NGV cylin
der installation resulted in 23 fatalities. The Cabinet has decided that PETRONAS will gradually end its retail NGV supply in Malaysia, with a complete phase-out by July 1, 2025, alongside the implementation of a NGV Vehicle Transition Assistance Programme.
