KUALA LUMPUR JULY 15: The proposed amendments in the penalties for those driving under the influence of alcohol will include a mandatory jail sentence, longer jail time, higher fines, and a longer license suspension period.
Transport Minister Datuk Seri Dr. Wee Ka Siong said the amendments will be on Section 41 to Section 45 of the Transport Act. Under Section 45A (1) of the Act, anyone found guilty of drink driving can be fined between RM1,000 and RM6,000 or jailed for up to 12 months.
For fatal accidents caused by drink driving, Section 44 of the Act provides for a maximum fine of RM10, 000 and a jail term of up to 12 months.
He said the amendment is very timely following a survey involving 345,000 respondents that proposed a stringent penalty should be taken on reckless drivers and those under the influence of alcohol.
“This year 12 people have been killed due to driving under the influence of alcohol and as such a holistic approach should be taken and the amendment to the penalties has been made in the period of 100 days,” said Ka Siong in a media conference held at the media centre, Parliament this morning
Ka Siong added, the proposed amendments to increase penalties for those driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs will be tabled to the Cabinet for approval on Friday (July 17) after the Attorney-General Chambers has completed studying the draft.
Ka Siong met reporters after replying to a question relating to the penalties on fatal accidents involving drivers under the influence of alcohol that was raised by Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim (PN-Arau) in Parliament today.
Meanwhile, the minister also mentioned that as a non-Muslim he advised those who drink alcohol should not drive instead should call a grab to drive them back home.
“A man who had drunk alcohol and vomited in the grab should clean it himself. Many grab drivers were reluctant to drive a man under the influence of alcohol, he said.
In the amendment of the penalties, Ka Siong said, drivers who choose to stop at the roadside to avoid the police from checking on them will also have to face the penalties. –Malaysia World News
