Earlier this week, it was reported that the transport ministry is working on amendments to the law that will see heavier punishment to those convicted of driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs. However, the reach of the updated laws won’t just be limited to these offences, as The Star reports.
According to transport minister Datuk Seri Wee Ka Siong, the move to amend laws for stiffer punishment on drink-driving will also include other forms of reckless driving. “Therefore, be it driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol or geng basikal lajak (modified bicycles) or mat rempits, any form of dangerous driving will be covered in the proposed amendments,” he said.
He said the issue of driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol had nothing to do with race or religion, but was an issue concerning personal safety. “Any final amendments to the Act are to impose more severe punishments against dangerous drivers and has nothing to do with race. To have more severe punishment against the perpetrators is to prevent more needless deaths,” he said in a Facebook post on the matter.
Amendments to Sections 41 to 45 of the Road Transport Act 1987 (Act 333) are expected to be finalised by mid-June and then brought to the cabinet for approval before heading to parliament to be tabled during the next sitting.
At present, Section 41 of Act 333 says that a person who is found guilty of driving under the influence can be penalised with a fine between RM5,000 and RM20,000 and/or a jail sentence from two to 10 years. Wee said that the amended laws will impose heavier penalties and longer jail terms on offenders.
Looking to sell your car? Sell it with Carro.
I hope stricter enforcement against reckless driving wouldn’t result in over zealous enforcement of the ridiculously speed limits that were set on our highways.
Ban geng ketum, basikal lajak & mat rempits too.
Our highways are some of the best in the world. I hoped that variable speed limit can be implemented, allowing people to go faster if it is safe, but also strictly punish those who goes too fast.
Safe can be defined differently by different people. The same group who oppose the 180km/h on Volvo will think it is safe to drive at 250km/h. I don’t think it is a good idea to let the drivers decide what is safe.
Is there a law to punish the caretaker of the bad condition roads that caused crashes and fatality?
Keep blaming the roads, most road accidents are caused by the road users la, not the condition of the roads. Do you see lots of deaths on dirt road? No because people don’t drive like idiots on those roads. Because they cannot drive fast. Grow up.
Potholes killed many rider and pillion owai
Really, numbers? Any satistics?
Anecdotal and conjecture only, typical.
You are not only reckless but also ignorant, go read up metro news archived Saturday 16 February 2019 of your master owns tabloid The Setar wrote recurring large potholes along same stretch causes motorcyclist fatal accidents in the past
Syukur x 10000. Fine, jail and rotan these offenders until their pants fall off. Safer to other road users.
Abang abang polis need to do frequent road blocks (esp during weekends) at alcohol “hotspots”.
I also hope stricter enforcement but this kind of announcement happens every year and then after that they don’t enforce and then twice a year they give discounts to fines. What’s the point right? Don’t keep your hopes high though. The Rakyat wants leniency in traffic laws, more fines means they won’t be reelected.
Is crawling on the overtaking lane reckless driving? Our policeman seemed efficient at flashing cars for speeding but closed both eyes when they see these crawlers in the road. These crawlers are obstructions on the road and should be penalized. They are cause for accidents too.
If the road hoggers are already driving at the speed limit technically they are not against the law, you trying to overtake them might be breaking the law.
The rules say go to left lane whenever possible. Do not hog the road and try to be the enforcer. This kind of attitude is equally dangerous to other road user.
Lane hogger is one of the offender also…
Before you say that, consider the speed limit of the said road. If the hogger is already at the speed limit, you are the offender.
Again as though as Malaysia is the only country who put in ‘ridiculous’ speed limit. Go to other countries Japan or Australia or UK and it is even more ridiculous.
You think 30km/h is ridiculous is residential areas and schools? Wait until you have kids then you know. So many drivers driving in residential areas like they are on north sorth highway.
Well done Dr Wee. At least you care for lives and not just caring to sell number plates like the last Transport Minister.
He did worse.. Remember the odd number plates which were sold by private crony enterprises before Loke took over. Who gave it to them? This new law was drafted by Loke before the job was stolen from him. Brush up on you facts please.
Yes he did worse. Deswai Loke is a joke.
What is the problem with geng basikal lajak? In Kedah I see boys from time to time with this basikal, but they seem to do nothing illegal? Are there problems in other parts of Malaysia with them? What they do there?
Geng basikal lajak don’t kill people but geng Ah Beng Mod Kaw Vios ricers kill others on a regular basis. That is the big difference.
Basikal lajak don’t kill, but these stupid kids get killed and cause unnecessary problems for road users. Irresponsible parents/baby machines churning out sampah masyarakat and sucking my tax money dry. Parasites.
They kill themselves, serves them right.
Idiot drivers kill others, serves who right? The dead innocent ones?
These beskal lajak are ridden (by kids without lesen) in main roads, with heavy traffic moving in high speed. Beskal lajak riders tarak wear helmet, sometimes tarak brek. Tarak insurance coverage.
Still saying not dangerous?
“had nothing to do with race or religion”
Why this topic has to be brought up? In Europe (where drinking alcohol is part of their culture) drunk driving leads to mandatory loss of driving licence and heavy fines (even without causing an accident)? And if the culprit is arrested more than two times for that offence, the court can declare the culprit “mentally unfit to drive a vehicle on public roads”, meaning that he or her will lose the driving license for lifetime.
I totally support stiffer punishment for any dangerous driving. However, if the enlargement of the scope is meant to delay the stricter enforcement of drink-driving; which is supposed to be the focus; by inviting dissent and unnecessary debate (due to inclusion of other offences), then Wee Ka Siong can go fly kite