A bit of free legal advice for all my UDM brothers here.
On the issue of Xenon headlamps:
Rule 96 (2)(i) of the Road Transport Act explicitly states that a conversion from standard halogen lighting system to xenon HID lights is allowed only with the provision that the entire lighting system conforms to specifications provided for in UNECE Rules 48, 98 and 99 and is installed accordingly. An additional directive by the RTD specifies that the conversion must be done by persons/companies with Sirim accreditation.
What this essentially means is that no modification to the car's lighting and signalling system is permitted under the law unless the modification involves retrofitting the entire factory-fit SYSTEM, and not just swapping of halogen bulbs for Xenons. So for those whose cars were not equipped with Xenon lights from the factory, modifying the car with aftermarket Xenon kits remains illegal under Malaysian law. No amendments are actually required to enforce JPJ's "No Xenon" policy.
However, for those whose cars have standard-fit Xenons from the factory, you're in the clear as Malaysia is a signatory to the World Forum for Harmonisation of Motor Vehicle Regulations. These rules apply UNECE Rules 48, 98 and 99 which allows the use of factory-fit Xenon headlamps SUBJECT TO the presence of Auto-Levelling (to prevent Xenons from blinding oncoming traffic) and, in some countries, compulsory fitment of headlamp washers to reduce light scatter from dirty headlamp covers (this is why all UK imports with standard Xenons have both self levelling headlamps AND headlight washers)
On the fitment of TV/DVD players in the car:
Section 66 of the Road Transport Act already provides broad powers to the RTD to take action against modifications done to cars. Sec 66(1)(i) in particular makes it an offence for any driver to install or use any appliance or accessory which are likely to cause danger whilst the vehicle is being driven.
Clearly, a DVD player or a TV set that a driver may be able to watch while he is operating the vehicle falls into this category of risk. This is why BMW's from the factory, even when fitted with the TV Tuner, will shut off the TV automatically once the car starts to move. On Jaguars and Land Rovers, their patented "Parallax Barrier" screen will display the TV image only to the passenger side of the car, while the driver will only see Radio/Climate Control/Navigation controls on the same screen.
This is also why the Proton Exora's DVD player is mounted on the roof, facing only the rear passengers - this disallows the driver from looking at the screen while he is in the driver's seat. This rule is also the reason behind the fact that most factory-fitted GPS Navigation systems will not allow you to change the route being navigated until you come to a complete stop.
So lesson of the day is this - if the RTD wants to clamp down on the fitment of after-market Xenon headlamps and DVD players, they can. The laws are already in place.
