Johor records five-fold increase in drink-driving cases
JOHOR BARU: The number of drink-driving cases reported in Johor has seen a five-fold increase this year compared to the year before.
State police chief Comm Datuk Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay said that 222 drink-driving cases had been reported from January until June 11 this year, an increase of 177 cases compared to the corresponding period last year.
“During the movement control order (MCO) period, we managed to make about 25 arrests, while another 43 arrests were made during the conditional MCO period,” he said.
Comm Ayob added that as of June 11, five more arrests were made related to drink-driving during the recovery MCO.
“The suspects are aged between 31 and 41, and are divided equally between men and women, both local and foreign,” he said.
Comm Ayob Khan said drivers were most likely drinking at restaurants that served alcohol or at their friend’s house as entertainment outlets were not allowed to operate during this time.
The police conducted an operation to detect drunk drivers in Johor from Friday night until 4am yesterday. The operation was conducted along Jalan Tebrau, where seven individuals were arrested.
Comm Ayob said six of the suspects were arrested for alleged violation of Section 45A(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987 for drinkdriving, and one for providing false statements under Section 108(3) of the same Act.
“A total of 39 summonses were issued for various offences, including 22 for using invalid licence, 11 for fancy licence plates, six for illegal vehicle modifications, two for using expired road tax, and one for not having a valid motor insurance,” he said.
Similar operations were also carried out simultaneously along Jalan Sutera Danga, KM8 of Lebuh Iskandar Sultan, Jalan Permas-Pasir Gudang and KM24 of Jalan Johor Baru-Ayer Hitam towards Kulai.
“At the same time, we also conducted operations to arrest illegal street racers in Batu Pahat, Muar, Kluang, Kota Tinggi, Tangkak and Mersing,” he said, adding that some 22 officers and 101 personnel were involved in the statewide operation.