MALAYSIA: 78-year-old Man Finally Gets Motorcycle License

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (The New Straits Times), July 15, 2006: He's 78 years old, and Yahya Jaafar was all smiles today. The father of nine finally received his motorcycle probationary license from the State Road Transport Department after riding the machine without a valid license for the past 30 years. Surprisingly, never once has he been stopped by the authorities. He was one of 521 people, aged 45 and above, who participated in a special programme by the department, to encourage senior citizens, particularly the kampung folks, to apply for a valid license to ride on a motorcycle. He was also the oldest participant there. Since the inception of the programme back in 2000, more than 6,000 senior citizens had benefitted from it. The programme is held three times annually and participants, who are mostly computer-illiterate only need to undergo oral tests. "My children have been pestering me to get a license for so many years now. I am happy that I finally obtained one," said Yahya, who was spotted wearing a hearing aid. By Audrey Dermawan Copyright © 2006 NST Online. All rights reserved.