KUALA LUMPUR: Some 1,261 cases related to driving under the influence have been convicted between January and November last year, says the Transport Ministry.
It said the figures obtained from the Office of the Chief Registrar of the Federal Court of Malaysia comprised offences under Section 44, 45 and 45a of the Road Transport Act 1987 (Act 333).
Section 44 refers to driving while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or drugs.
Section 45 meanwhile deals with the offence of being in charge of motor vehicles when under the influence of intoxicating liquor or drugs, while Section 45a refers to driving or being in charge of a motor vehicle with alcohol concentration above prescribed limit.
“The government has also imposed heavier penalties under Section 44 whereby the minimum jail sentence for driving under the influence of intoxicating liquor or drugs to the point of causing death has been raised from three years to 10 years. The maximum jail term has also been increased from 10 to 15 years.
“For the second conviction, the jail term has also been increased to 15 years, whereas the maximum sentence would be 20 years,” it said in a written reply on Tuesday (Feb 24).
The ministry also expressed its commitment to working together with the Home Ministry and police to strengthen enforcement nationwide.
It was responding to Azli Yusof (PH-Shah Alam) who asked about the effectiveness of amendments to the Road Transport Act, which imposed heavier penalties for driving under the influence, to the point of causing death and also cases that did not involve death.
On another matter, the ministry said there are no plans to introduce an age cap when it comes to the ownership or renewal of driving licences.
It said this was because the current approach evaluates the ability of an individual to drive safely.
It however noted that periodic health checks are compulsory for license renewals when it comes to vocational licence holders.
“For Competent Driving Licence holders, however, the Road Transport Department can suspend or cancel a licence if the driver is found to no longer be able to drive safely due to health factors,” said the ministry.
It was responding to Mohamad Shafizan Kepli (GPS-Batang Lupar) who asked if there are plans to set an age cap on the ownership of driving licences as a measure to enhance road safety.
