Govt mulls 20 years’ jail, RM100,000 fine for DUI causing death

The five children whose father was killed and mother seriously injured in an accident involving their motorcycle and a car on Feb 9. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA: The government is looking at tougher penalties for motorists found guilty of driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs and causing death, including a maximum 20 years’ jail and a fine of up to RM100,000.

Currently, the penalties are a jail sentence of up to 10 years and a fine of up to RM20,000.

Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng said it is necessary to amend the law because of the high number of deaths from road accidents, Bernama reported.

He said the government is considering amending the penalties under Section 41 of the Road Transport Act 1987 for intoxicated drivers who cause accidents leading to death.

Earlier, Lim visited five children whose father was killed and mother seriously hurt in an accident involving their motorcycle and a car, believed to have been driven by a drunk person, at their home on Jalan Hj Mohd Saad, near Bagan Jermal in Butterworth.

Lim, who is also the MP for Bagan, handed over a donation of RM5,000 to the children.

The contribution is from the state government and agencies, including the Welfare Department, as well as his Bagan parliamentary constituency office.

“I hope their mother regains consciousness and recovers soon. We will continue to help this family,” he said.

Khairizul Mohamad Noor, 39, died and Zuriana Hasan, 36, was seriously injured when a car crashed into their motorcycle at Km140.2 of the North South Expressway (northbound) near the Bukit Mertajam exit to Perai at 5am on Feb 9.

Lim said almost 7,000 fatal road accidents are recorded each year – among the highest in the world.

He said although the number had declined, the public should cooperate to bring it down further. - FMT