PUTRAJAYA: Victims of accidents caused by drivers under the influence of alcohol or drugs may no longer need to file separate civil suits to seek compensation under proposed amendments to the Road Transport Act 1987, says Anthony Loke.
The Transport Minister said the proposed amendments would combine criminal proceedings against offenders with the process of awarding compensation to victims, who currently have to file separate civil suits to seek damages.
He said the policy had been approved by the Cabinet in principle, with the ministry now working on the draft Bill with the Attorney General’s Chambers (AGC).
“Under the current system, we have a dual system where it is criminal and also civil. So for any victims of road accidents, anyone who drives under the influence of alcohol or drugs will be charged by the police and then by the AGC.
“This will be under the criminal system, but for the victims, if they want to get compensation from the drivers, they have to file a civil case.
“This is where the problem lies because some victims do not have the means to file a civil case and it will take years to get compensation from a civil case.
“So what we are doing right now is that we want to combine these two into one so that when the case is brought to the court, the judge can also award compensation to the victims.
“It is a universal principle and is very much an Islamic principle as well, which we want to adopt, and it will be applied to everyone,” he said at a special press conference on Budget 2027 on Monday (Oct 12).
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, when tabling Budget 2027, had said the Road Transport Act 1987 would be amended to make it mandatory for motorists driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs to pay compensation to their victims.
Loke added that the ministry was targeting the first Parliamentary sitting next year to table the proposed amendments, as there are several technical issues that had to be considered.
“Work on this has already begun, and Cabinet approval in principle was obtained several months ago.
“The Land Transport Division is preparing the policy paper and the Bill. However, it will take some time before it can be tabled in Parliament, as it involves various technical considerations.
“Perhaps we are targeting the first Parliamentary session next year to table. Hopefully, because right now we are still a work in progress,” he said.
