Harsher Penalties, Lengthier Jail Time To Curb Drunk Driving Issues - MOT

In response to YB Dato Seri Dr. Shahidan Bin Kassim's (Arau) written parliamentary inquiry about the growing problem of drunk driving in Malaysia, the Ministry of Transport said that the amendments to the Road Transport Act 1987 [Act 333] had already been put into effect as of October 23, 2020.

Since the amendment was put into effect, tougher penalties have been imposed in an effort to serve as a deterrent and increase public awareness of legal compliance. For some acts, such as driving while intoxicated or under the influence of drugs, these include obligatory prison sentences, lengthier jail periods, and harsher penalties.

Following the implementation of the new amendment, anyone convicted for the first time in a death-causing case faces a minimum sentence of ten years and a maximum sentence of fifteen years in prison as well as a fine of at least fifty thousand ringgit and a maximum of one hundred thousand ringgit, the ministry added.

Furthermore, the Ministry of Transportation has already implemented changes to the same amendment in 2020, lowering the blood alcohol content threshold for drivers who are intoxicated. 
Following the amendment, the new limit for alcohol concentration is 22 microgrammes per 100 millilitres (ml) of breath, as opposed to the previous limit of 35 microgrammes per 100 ml of breath. This is followed by 50 grammes (g) in 100 ml of blood, as opposed to 80 grammes (g) in 100 ml of blood prior to the amendment, and 67 milligrammes (mg) in 100 ml of urine, as opposed to 107 mg in 100 ml of urine prior to the amendment.
Regarding the proposal to legalise the death sentence for drunk drivers, the Ministry believes that situations involving drunken drivers should adhere to present laws. The drunk driver's intent to kill must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt in court before the death sentence can be applied under the Penal Code (Act 574), it says.

 "We have taken the proper steps by revising and implementing the 2020 amendments to the Road Transport Act [Act 333], which impose harsher penalties on intoxicated drivers who put other road users in danger. One such measure is raising the limit alcohol content, which will result in much harsher penalties for those who drive over the legal limit

"The Ministry of Transport will also keep working with the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) and the Ministry of Home Affairs (KDN) to improve enforcement efforts around the country and to bolster campaigns and advocacy", it added.