KUALA LUMPUR: Existing penalties for offences involving driving while intoxicated should be reviewed to strengthen their deterrent effect and overall impact, says Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said.
The Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Law and Institutional Reform) said current provisions for road traffic accident offences are too lenient and do not send a strong warning to the public.
"From a legal standpoint, penalties for road traffic offences are still relatively light. We need to review the law and consider amendments to clearly reflect the seriousness of these offences and ensure penalties are truly commensurate.
"If offenders view the fines as low, they may feel they can simply pay and move on. The relevant ministry should reassess existing laws and consider amendments for stiffer, more appropriate penalties," she told reporters after delivering a keynote address at the Commonwealth Legal Education Association conference here on Friday (April 3).
Azalina said stronger legal provisions are sometimes necessary to instil a sense of fear and caution among the public.
"In my view, people may only take such offences seriously when faced with heavier penalties. Otherwise, they may think they can get away with it. If a RM50,000 fine can eventually be reduced, that may shape public perception," she said.
She was commenting on a recent fatal crash in Klang involving a driver under the influence of drugs and alcohol, which claimed the life of 33-year-old motorcyclist Amirul Hafiz Omar on March 29. – Bernama
