Stiffer penalties for drink-driving soon
Road Transport Act amendments should be finalised by mid-June, says Wee
The number of accidents due to driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs these five months is as many as that committed in the whole of 2019. Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin isn’t taking this lightly and Transport Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong promises that amendments to the Road Transport Act to punish such errant drivers severely will be ready by mid-June.
Both Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and Transport Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong have voiced their concerns about drink-driving.
Stiffer punishment awaited drink-drivers, with amendments to the Road Transport Act being finalised in mid-June before tabling in Parliament, said Muhyiddin.
Muhyiddin said he had directed the Transport Ministry to draft amendments to the Act to provide for stiffer punishment for those found guilty of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
“The number of road accidents involving drunk drivers are seen to be more worrying lately and I view this seriously.
“As leader of a government, and also a father, I understand the concerns of the people and families of accident victims who want the government to act firmly in handling the issue,” he said yesterday.
The amendments would set a heavier and more appropriate mandatory punishment on drinkdrivers who caused injuries and deaths of other road users, he said.
Statistics showed that there were 21 accidents involving such drivers in the first five months of this year, from which eight lives were lost.
Muhyiddin said this was worrying as the number of drink-driving related accidents recorded so far this year came close to the overall 23 cases recorded last year.
Currently, those who get behind the wheel while drunk could be punished under Section 45A (1) of the Act, which provides for a fine of not less than RM1,000 and not more than RM6,000 or imprisonment of maximum 12 months.
Drunk drivers who caused deaths could face a maximum fine of RM20,000 and a jail term of up to 10 years.
Dr Wee has appealed to motorists not to drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs. He said motorists must value their own lives and the lives of other road users.
His comments followed another case in which a motorcycle pillion rider was killed and the rider suffered serious injuries when they collided with a car driven by a man who was driving under influence.
“Another tragic news of a drunk driver who caused the loss of life. My thoughts are with the victim’s family. May his soul rest in peace.
“To drivers out there, please don’t drive when you are drunk or under the influence of drugs. Be a member of society who is responsible and think of the greater good,” he said on Facebook yesterday.
Dr Wee also gave assurance that all proposed amendments to the
Road Transport Act would be finalised in mid-June.
“As promised, a briefing session by the Road Transport Department (JPJ) will be held on June 1.
“Among the proposed amendments were on offences related to driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs.
“I guarantee that the ministry will finalise the amendments by mid-June before it is tabled for the Cabinet’s consideration,” he added.
On May 2, a policeman on duty at a roadblock along the Lekas Highway was run over by a car driven by a suspected drunk driver.
Sjn Safwan Muhammad Ismail, 31, died on the spot.
On Friday morning, a 22-year-old man who was driving while under the influence of alcohol was detained following a fatal accident at the Federal Highway.
Petaling Jaya OCPD Asst Comm Nik Ezanee Mohd Faisal said there was a collision with a motorcycle.
“The accident led to the death of the 42-year-old motorcycle pillion rider while the rider sustained serious injuries,” he said, adding that both of them were on the way home when the accident happened.
ACP Nik Ezanee said the number of roadblocks in Petaling Jaya would be tripled under Ops Alcohol in a bid to discourage drink-driving.
Police, he said, had arrested 11 people as at Friday for drink-driving during the movement control order period.