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A Health Ministry Sec-Gen Said Ambulances Are Not Allowed To Beat Red Lights. Other Sources Disagree.

9 min read

Ask whether a Malaysian ambulance can legally run a red light and you will get two confident and opposite answers.

We could not resolve it, and we are going to show you why rather than pick one.

Position A — no. Health Ministry secretary-general Datuk Seri Dr Hasan Abdul Rahman has been reported as stating that ambulances are not allowed to beat traffic lights even during an emergency.

Position B — yes, with conditions. Ambulance industry material states that emergency vehicles are exempt from certain traffic regulations including traffic signals when responding to an emergency, provided they exercise due care.

What both agree on: an ambulance is never immune from the law on dangerous, careless or inconsiderate driving. Whatever the position on the light itself, an ambulance that causes a collision can be treated like any other vehicle.

And that is not theoretical. In December 2025 at a Setapak intersection, a PBSM ambulance van with emergency lights and siren activated entered the intersection against a red light and collided with a vehicle travelling through on green. The ambulance then struck several others waiting at the intersection. A 40-year-old motorcyclist suffered a fractured femur. The ambulance was responding to an emergency call at a nearby PPR. The case went under investigation.

What the law does say clearly

Rule 9 of the Road Traffic Rules 1959 gives emergency vehicles on duty the right of way over all other traffic.

Rule 9(1) attaches conditions:

  • they must warn others they are approaching by sounding a siren, bell or two-tone horn
  • they remain bound by their legal responsibilities and by traffic laws on dangerous, careless or inconsiderate driving

So the right of way is real, and the exemption from responsibility is not. An ambulance rushing a patient must still do so safely, or it is subject to the same laws as any other vehicle.

A note on sourcing: the Road Traffic Rules 1959 are not available in the public domain, which is part of why this question generates so much confusion.

What you must do as a driver

Rule 9(2) requires drivers of ordinary vehicles to make way by moving as close as possible to the side of the road and stopping to let emergency vehicles pass.

Rule 24 of the Highway Code gives this further effect: drivers must give way to emergency vehicles with their siren turned on.

On the Highway Code's status — this is worth understanding. Breaking a rule of the Highway Code is not itself a crime. But the fact that you broke it can be used as evidence against you in court. So in a collision with an ambulance, failing to give way is not a standalone offence but will count against you on liability.

Practically:

  • Pull to the left and stop where it is safe
  • Do not brake suddenly in a live lane — that is how secondary collisions happen
  • Do not run a red light to get out of the way. You have no exemption
  • Do not follow an ambulance through traffic to exploit the gap

When ambulances may use sirens

Ambulance drivers are not free to activate lights and sirens as they like. Reported practice is that they may do so only during an emergency call, and then only when necessary to warn traffic that an ambulance is approaching so that traffic can slow and give way.

Where an ambulance does proceed against a light, the driver must ensure the road is clear and that traffic is aware of the ambulance's presence.

Misuse of sirens is an offence. Emergency sirens and lights are restricted to police, fire, ambulance and authorised enforcement vehicles during emergencies or specific official duties. Reported penalties for unauthorised use run to RM2,000 or up to 6 months' imprisonment, and Bukit Aman JSPT has warned that using sirens to get through traffic congestion for non-emergencies is a serious violation.

One useful clarification from public commentary: under Rule 9, an ambulance is an emergency vehicle whereas a VIP convoy is not — so the convoy is required to give way to the ambulance, not the reverse.

If you collide with an ambulance

Both drivers must make a police report, and the matter passes to JSPT for investigation — specifically the JSPT Accident Investigation Office. The same applies to collisions with any government vehicle.

Do not assume you are automatically at fault. The Setapak case shows an ambulance entering against a red light and colliding with a vehicle proceeding lawfully on green. Liability is investigated, not presumed.

Standard steps apply: stop, call 999 if anyone is injured, photograph everything before vehicles move, exchange details, and report within 24 hours — see (The Law Says "As Soon As Reasonably Practicable." Your Insurer Treats 24 Hours As A Cliff.).

FAQ

Can ambulances legally run red lights in Malaysia?

Sources conflict. A Health Ministry secretary-general has been reported as saying they are not allowed to beat traffic lights even in an emergency; other material says emergency vehicles are exempt from traffic signals when responding to an emergency with due care. We could not resolve this and have presented both.

Do ambulances have right of way?

Yes. Rule 9 of the Road Traffic Rules 1959 gives emergency vehicles on duty the right of way over all other traffic, provided they warn others by siren, bell or two-tone horn.

Are ambulances above the traffic laws?

No. Rule 9(1) preserves their legal responsibilities and their liability under the laws on dangerous, careless and inconsiderate driving.

What must I do when I hear a siren?

Rule 9(2) requires you to move as close as possible to the side of the road and stop. Rule 24 of the Highway Code requires giving way to emergency vehicles with sirens on.

Is it an offence not to give way?

Breaking the Highway Code is not itself a crime, but it can be used as evidence against you in court.

Should I run a red light to let an ambulance past?

No. You have no exemption. Pull left and stop where safe.

Can any vehicle use a siren?

No. Sirens and emergency lights are restricted to police, fire, ambulance and authorised enforcement vehicles on emergency or official duty. Misuse has been reported as carrying up to RM2,000 or 6 months.

What if an ambulance hits me?

Both drivers must lodge police reports and the matter goes to JSPT for investigation. Fault is not presumed against you.

This article is general legal information, not legal advice, and reading it does not create a lawyer–client relationship.

Specific to this article: whether an ambulance may lawfully proceed against a red light in Malaysia is genuinely unclear on the sources available to us — a Health Ministry secretary-general has been reported as saying they may not, while ambulance industry material states that emergency vehicles are exempt from traffic signals when responding to an emergency. We have presented both positions rather than choosing, and readers should not rely on either as settled. The Road Traffic Rules 1959 are not publicly available online, which limits verification; the Rule 9 and Rule 24 content here is drawn from secondary Malaysian sources quoting them. Penalty figures for siren misuse come from secondary reporting rather than a statutory text we retrieved. The Setapak incident is described as reported and was under investigation; nothing here indicates fault in that case. If you are involved in a collision with an emergency vehicle, lodge a report and take advice.

Spot something outdated or wrong? Tell us — we’ll verify and correct it, with the correction noted.

Key sources (7) — how this was verified
  • AskLegal existing page, "Are ambulances allowed to beat red traffic lights in Malaysia?" — Rule 9 of the Road Traffic Rules 1959 giving emergency vehicles on duty the right of way over all other traffic, with the note that this law is not available in the public domain; Rule 9(1) requiring them to warn others of their approach by sounding a siren, bell or two-tone horn and preserving their legal responsibilities and liability under traffic laws on dangerous, careless or inconsiderate driving; Health Ministry secretary-general Datuk Seri Dr Hasan Abdul Rahman's statement that ambulances are not allowed to beat traffic lights even during an emergency; Rule 9(2) requiring drivers of normal vehicles to make way by going as close as possible to the sides of the road and stopping; Rule 24 of the Highway Code requiring drivers to give way to emergency vehicles with sirens on; and the point that breaking a rule of the Highway Code is not an actual crime but can be used as evidence against you in court: https://asklegal.my/p/are-ambulances-allowed-to-beat-red-traffic-lights-in-malaysia
  • Paul Tan, October 2021, "Ambulances have automatic right of way in Malaysia?" — the statement that ambulance drivers are not allowed to activate lights and sirens as they like, but only during an emergency call and then only when necessary to warn traffic that an ambulance is approaching so traffic can prepare to slow down and give way; the requirement that the driver must ensure the road is clear and traffic is aware of the ambulance's presence; and the procedure that in an accident between a private vehicle and an ambulance or any other government vehicle, a police report must be made by both drivers and the matter passes to JSPT for investigation via the JSPT Accident Investigation Office: https://paultan.org/2021/10/13/ambulances-have-automatic-right-of-way-in-malaysia/
  • Malay Mail, 22 December 2025, "PBSM ambulance collides with vehicles at Setapak intersection" — the account that a vehicle travelling straight from Wangsa Maju was proceeding through the intersection on a green light when a PBSM ambulance van approaching from Jalan Kilang, with its emergency lights and siren activated, entered the intersection against a red light and collided with it, after which the ambulance crashed and struck several others waiting at the intersection; that the ambulance was unoccupied and responding to an emergency call involving a patient at the nearby Gombak Setia PPR; that all but one victim sustained minor injuries with a 40-year-old motorcyclist suffering a fractured femur; and that the case remained under further investigation: https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2025/12/22/pbsm-ambulance-collides-with-vehicles-at-setapak-intersection-no-casualties-reported/202903
  • Elmer Ambulance Malaysia, "Can Ambulance Cross Red Light In Malaysia?" — the contrary position that under Malaysian law emergency vehicles such as ambulances are exempt from certain traffic regulations including speed limits, traffic signals and parking restrictions, but only when responding to an emergency situation, and that emergency vehicle drivers must exercise due care and caution and not endanger the safety of others; together with the protocols of activating sirens and flashing lights, slowing and approaching intersections with caution, and giving way to other emergency vehicles responding to the same incident. Cited as the source of the contrary position, which we could not reconcile with the Health Ministry statement: https://elmerambulance.com/can-ambulance-cross-red-light/
  • BJAK, "Sharing The Road With Emergency Vehicles: What Should You Do?" — the JPJ position that drivers must give way to emergency vehicles with their sirens turned on: https://bjak.my/blog/sharing-the-road-with-emergency-vehicles-what-should-you-do/
  • Malaysiakini, "YOURSAY | Everyone must make way for the ambulance" — the public commentary point that under Rule 9 of the Road Traffic Rules 1959 an ambulance is an emergency vehicle whereas a VIP convoy is not, so the convoy is required by law to give way to the ambulance: https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/613646
  • Reported enforcement position on siren misuse — that emergency sirens and lights are restricted to police, fire, ambulance and authorised enforcement vehicles during emergencies or specific official duties; that unauthorised use can result in fines up to RM2,000 or up to 6 months in jail; and that Bukit Aman JSPT has warned that using sirens to navigate traffic congestion for non-emergencies is a serious violation. Cited as reported commentary rather than a primary source: https://www.threads.com/@oneal_nel/post/DXb4O_2lNj-/legality-emergency-sirens-lights-are-restricted-to-police-fire-ambulance-and