Malaysia imposes tougher penalty for drink-driving
The Malaysian Parliament recently passed the Road Transport (Amendment) Bill 2020, which provides a heftier penalty for driving under the influence of alcohol.
Drivers are tested for blood alcohol levels at a checkpoint in Kuala Lumpur (Photo: Bernama)
Kuala Lumpur (VNA) – The Malaysian Parliament recently passed the Road Transport(Amendment) Bill 2020, which provides a heftier penalty for driving under theinfluence of alcohol.
For those causingdeath while driving under the influence, the punishment will be imprisonment ofbetween five and 10 years, and a fine of between 20,000 - 50,000 ringgit (4,800- 12,000 USD).
Offenders will also havetheir driving licences revoked for five years.
Those driving underthe influence of alcohol and drugs to the point they are unable to control thevehicles that may pose risks to others, or with alcohol levels higher than theprescribed ones will also face a prison term up to 10 years and a fine of30,000 – 50,000 ringgit.
Malaysian TransportMinister Wee Ka Siong said the amendments to the bill were done in acomprehensive manner to tackle the problem.
He said the governmentis not only using legislation to address the issue but also three elements ofeducation, engineering of road conditions and enforcement.
Data of the Departmentof Statistics Malaysia show that traffic accidents claim about 6,200 lives eachyear while injuring hundreds of others./.
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Drivers are tested for blood alcohol levels at a checkpoint in Kuala Lumpur (Photo: Bernama)
