Cabinet has approved stiffer penalties for drunk driving; up to RM150k fine and/or 20 years jail – Wee

Cabinet has approved stiffer penalties for drunk driving; up to RM150k fine and/or 20 years jail – Wee

Transport minister Datuk Seri Wee Ka Siong has said that the cabinet has given its approval in principle to amend Sections 41 to 45 of the Road Transport Act, which will allow for harsher penalties against those found to be driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol.

Wee said in his reply during parliament’s question time that the attorney general’s chambers have gone through the bill’s draft and he expects the amendment to be tabled in the Dewan Rakyat on July 17, the Malay Mail reported.

“Under Section 44, currently the maximum jail time is 10 years. The amendment will see first time offenders facing 15 years imprisonment for the first offence and 20 years for the subsequent offence,” Wee said.

“Currently, the maximum fine for those found guilty is RM20,000 but we will increase this to RM100,000 for the first offence and RM150,000 for the following offence. We will also suspend their driver’s license for 20 years from 10 years,” the Ayer Hitam MP added.

Clearly not worth risking it, so if you’re planning a night out with drinks, just Grab or hitch a ride.

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Danny Tan

Danny Tan loves driving as much as he loves a certain herbal meat soup, and sweet engine music as much as drum beats. He has been in the auto industry since 2006, previously filling the pages of two motoring magazines before joining this website. Enjoys detailing the experience more than the technical details.

 

Comments

  • Lol confirm no enforcements like always on Jul 15, 2020 at 12:41 pm

    Talk talk only, while the drunk still drives among us freely. Weeeee

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 24 Thumb down 19
    • Avenger on Jul 15, 2020 at 3:18 pm

      At the very least they have increase the harshness of punishment. The Government has done their part, now its up to JPJ & PDRM to enforce it.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 28 Thumb down 2
      • Kopi kopi price up on Jul 15, 2020 at 6:06 pm

        Good for all who has benefit from it. Safe safe.

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 1
        • Rakyat Malaysia on Jul 15, 2020 at 6:51 pm

          We will all benefit from safer roads. Thank you so much Dr Wee.

          Like or Dislike: Thumb up 13 Thumb down 1
          • AliAhkauRasamy on Jul 15, 2020 at 10:05 pm

            No mandatory jail? Useless!

            Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 4
          • Rakyat Malaysia on Jul 16, 2020 at 12:03 am

            What’s the point of giving them nice place to stay and feeding them? Making them donate a CR-V each time they got convicted is a better punishment and saves the rakyat monies.

            Like or Dislike: Thumb up 5 Thumb down 0
  • Safety First on Jul 15, 2020 at 12:51 pm

    This is great news indeed! Dr Wee is taking safety matters seriously unlike the last Transport Minister, and he meant business. Don’t play-play with him!

    Now to extend the same punishment for reckless driving ASAP. Well done Dr Wee! Safety First!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 51 Thumb down 26
    • Aura89 on Jul 15, 2020 at 10:24 pm

      Yep. Now if only Dr Wee could rescind the stupid law that allowed opaque tint done by the previous TM.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 17 Thumb down 1
    • Tarak baca simply hantam on Jul 16, 2020 at 3:00 am

      https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2020/01/29/loke-heavier-penalties-soon-for-reckless-driving-dui-offences

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 3
    • Simply hantam on Jul 16, 2020 at 3:04 am

      Don’t simply hantam. Read TheStar news on 29 Jan 2020. ‘Loke: Heavier penalties soon for reckless driving, DUI offences’

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 5 Thumb down 4
      • Avenger on Jul 16, 2020 at 8:49 am

        Talk no use. Anyone can talk Loki was more focused to sell number plates and promoting himself. Who the stupid idiot who propose allowing super dark tint here? Loki or Wee?

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 0
    • Neverread on Jul 16, 2020 at 3:20 am

      Go read TheStar 29 Jan 2020. ‘Loke: Heavier penalties soon for reckless driving, DUI offences’.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 3
  • Autobahn on Jul 15, 2020 at 1:06 pm

    Even grab wont allow drunk passenger into their cars..

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 8 Thumb down 5
  • Anti drunker on Jul 15, 2020 at 1:09 pm

    Well done

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 11 Thumb down 4
  • kereta_lembu on Jul 15, 2020 at 1:12 pm

    I believe this is good enough to deter people from drinking and driving but it is never fool proof. There will still be people who will do it when they are intoxicated because their judgement will be off. When they are highly intoxicated, they will do things that defy logic. So, apart from hefty fines, they should encourage clubs and pubs to stop serving people alcoholic drinks once they see something wrong with them.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 15 Thumb down 2
  • choha on Jul 15, 2020 at 2:00 pm

    not good enough, should be death penalty!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 8 Thumb down 4
  • Ben Yap on Jul 15, 2020 at 2:09 pm

    Honda BRV is a better buy as it got better performance.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 9
  • Bieight on Jul 15, 2020 at 2:51 pm

    Should be 1m fine and life in prison for 1st offence

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 7
  • If the drunkards recklessly cause death, death sentence please! Period!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 9 Thumb down 7
    • That is covered under criminal manslaughter conviction laws.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 2
    • Temenggong Pepatih Bunian on Jul 15, 2020 at 3:47 pm

      Guilty party sentenced to death by car crashes?

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 1
      • Rakyat Malaysia on Jul 16, 2020 at 12:02 am

        Guilty party to be used as live crash test dummies for NCAP tests. After 5 rounds, if they still survive they are released.

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 1
  • C.P. MOHAN on Jul 15, 2020 at 3:15 pm

    What does “approved in principle” means, too me it means do more research since legal amendments only will not reduce this problem.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 2
    • Copy Paste on Jul 15, 2020 at 3:58 pm

      Copy paste: ” the attorney general’s chambers have gone through the bill’s draft and he expects the amendment to be tabled in the Dewan Rakyat on July 17″. [CP: That’s what it meant. Nothing else.]

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 5 Thumb down 0
  • mr1031 on Jul 15, 2020 at 3:40 pm

    a good start..let’s hope the implementation and enforcement be done properly

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 1
  • Mr. J on Jul 15, 2020 at 4:55 pm

    Cabinet should study the repercussion of this harsher penalty and looking at the other side of the coin.
    1) There will be enforcement officers abusing it to get more bribes. There should be a fixed method of checking “under influence”
    2) Also they should clarify “driving under influence of drugs” – Can the law penalize you if you eat a Panadol/Aspirin/High blood pressure/Cholesterol medicine before or during driving?
    Does medicine fall under the “drugs” category?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 8
    • Rakyat Malaysia on Jul 15, 2020 at 6:56 pm

      You should educate yourself what is the medical definition for driving under influence of drugs… rest assured the police knows how to determine if you’re incapacitated to drive due to Panadol or whatnot.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 5 Thumb down 1
  • Rider101 on Jul 15, 2020 at 5:06 pm

    The way I see it the current penalty is already harsh. Its the lack of enforcement and corruption the real causes. Imo its better to review the law on those rempit. Not drunk doesn’t mean don’t cause accidents. Rempit bag snatcher are society scum.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 10 Thumb down 11
    • Rakyat Malaysia on Jul 15, 2020 at 6:53 pm

      Nope. Rm300 isn’t harsh enough when these aholes can easily blow Rm300 on their favourite beverages PER NIGHT. Getting them to donate a CR-V per case, would hurt their pockets eventually.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 10 Thumb down 6
      • Tarakbaca on Jul 16, 2020 at 3:12 am

        What rm300? Go read carefully. Under present law; ‘jailed up to ten years and fined up to RM20,000.’

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 1
    • Ikengkai on Jul 16, 2020 at 1:11 pm

      Drunk driver, rempit, driving without license, underage driving, running through red light, zig zag overtaking, parking in yellow line.
      All should increase the punishment and proper enforcement.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 0
  • Hafiz kero on Jul 18, 2020 at 11:55 am

    Yes, now we are on par with developed countries. Drink/drugs while driving is dangerous. Even without this ppl drove dangerously, if under the influence…bad things could happen

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
 

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