The Road Safety Council of Malaysia, better known as Majlis Keselamatan Jalan Raya Malaysia (MKJR), has been a leading advocate for road safety since its establishment in 1954. Formed in response to the increasing number of vehicles and growing road safety concerns, MKJR emerged as a vital voice in shaping Malaysia’s efforts to improve road safety. Recognising the urgent need for structured interventions, MKJR was officially registered with the Registrar of Societies on 9 July 1963 as a non-governmental organisation dedicated to public education and promoting social responsibility in road safety.
Constitution of MKJR (PDF, 164 KB, 5 pages)
A Legacy of Awareness Campaigns
For over 60 years, MKJR has played a pivotal role in educating Malaysians about road safety. From the 1960s onwards, the Council spearheaded large-scale, nationwide campaigns designed to instil safer driving habits among road users. Leveraging radio, television, and print media, these campaigns became a household presence across the country.
One of the most iconic slogans popularised by MKJR was “Pandu Cermat, Jiwa Selamat”, a memorable call to action that encouraged motorists to drive carefully for their own well-being and that of others. This slogan, deeply ingrained in Malaysian society, reflected MKJR’s persistent efforts to foster a culture of responsible driving.
Throughout the following decades, MKJR expanded its outreach by engaging with schools, community groups, and industry stakeholders to promote road safety awareness. Campaigns were strategically designed to target high-risk groups such as motorcyclists, pedestrians, and young drivers, with impactful messages delivered through advertisements, educational materials, and public service announcements.
Evolving Roles and Responsibilities
In 2004, some of MKJR’s core functions were delegated to the newly established Road Safety Department (JKJR), which also assumed the role of MKJR’s secretariat. This transition allowed JKJR to focus on policy implementation and enforcement, while MKJR retained its role as a key advocate for public awareness and education.
The establishment of the Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (MIROS) in 2007 further strengthened Malaysia’s institutional framework for road safety, with MKJR continuing to play an advisory and collaborative role in public outreach efforts.
Moving Forward
Today, MKJR continues to evolve, actively refining its strategies to remain relevant in a changing world. Embracing the Safe System Approach, the Council now focuses on targeted, community-based road safety initiatives that address specific local risks rather than relying solely on broad national plans.
By fostering strong collaboration with all key stakeholders, we believe we can make significant progress towards our national goal, based on 2020 Stockholm Declaration, of reducing road traffic fatalities by 50 percent by 2030, from 6,167 in 2019 to approx. 3,000.
