PM promises stricter drink-driving laws, says he's a father too

Penalties for driving under the influence of alcohol will be enhanced during the upcoming sitting of the Dewan Rakyat, said Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin.

The prime minister said he had instructed to Transport Ministry to draft amendments to the Road Transport Act 1987.

"As the head of government and a father, I understand the concerns of the public and families of those who were victims of drink-driving which is increasingly a concern of late," said Muhyiddin in a statement.

He said the police had recorded 21 cases of drink-driving during the first five months this year which had led to eight fatalities.

"This is a concern because this figure is nearing the total (drink-driving) cases recorded last year, 23," he said.

The prime minister expects the draft bill to be ready by June and tabled during the next Dewan Rakyat sitting. According to Parliament's website, the next sitting is scheduled to begin on July 13.

The previous administration, which Muhyiddin was also a part of, had decided in January to amend the Sections 41, 44 and 45 Road Transport Act 1987 to increase penalties for drink-driving.

According to the World Health Organisation's Global status report on road safety 2018, there were 7,152 reported road traffic fatalities in Malaysia in 2016.

Of this figure, drink-driving contributed to less than one percent of the total. - Mkini