'PN gov't shows no political will to address the drunk driving issue'

Opposition leaders from DAP, including former transport minister Anthony Loke, have come forward to urge the Perikatan Nasional government to speed up law amendments against drunk driving, saying that the offence must not be tolerated.

In a statement, Loke said the plan to amend the Road Transport Act 1987 had been in the pipeline when he was holding the ministry post when Pakatan Harapan was in power.

Among the proposals, according to him, was to increase the jail term for drunk driving from between three and 10 years now to a minimum of six years and maximum 20 years; and lower the permitted blood alcohol level from 80 milligrammes per 100 millilitres to only 50 milligrammes.

"We also planned to amend the Act so that anyone found guilty of causing death due to drunk driving would have their driving licence suspended for life. I believe that a drunk driver who has cost life is not fit to drive on the road," Loke said.

He stressed that the Harapan government was firm on the issue of drunk driving, that while it would not deny the right of non-Muslims to consume alcoholic beverages, those who do have no right to drive under intoxication and endanger the safety of others.

"Drunk drivers must be punished with the heaviest punishment. Zero tolerance for drunk drivers!" Loke (above) added.

In a separate statement, a group of 20 other DAP leaders, including parliamentarians and state legislative assemblypersons, claimed that PN government today does not show the political will to pursue the plan to tighten the law on drunk driving.

"We refer to the incident where a drunk driver caused the death of a victim in a road accident in Kuantan as reported by the media on May 26, 2020. This was the second tragedy that ended in death during the movement control order, after the death of Corporal Safwan Muhammad Ismail earlier this month.

"The Harapan government, through its then transport minister Anthony Loke, had previously informed that as the federal government, it would be amending the Road Transport Act to set heavy punishments for drunk drivers, besides other amendments including to suspend the driving licence for life.

"The bill for this amendment had even been set to be tabled at the Parliament sitting this year. This shows Harapan's political will to deal with this problem.

"However, we do not see the same political will from the current PN government. The issue of drunk driving, which used to be a big issue for opposition parties BN and PAS, now no longer being a priority for them when they have become the government.

"They merely distribute the MOT's survey online, and propose for a special cabinet committee to be set up when what they should do is amend the existing law," said the statement.

The DAP leaders who signed the statement are Thomas Su Keong Siong (Kampar MP), Steven Sim Chee Keong (Bukit Mertajam MP), Alice Lau Kiong Yieng (Lanang MP), Chan Foong Hin (Kota Kinabalu MP), Wong Shu Qi (Kluang MP), Kelvin Yii Lee Wuen (Kuching MP), Phoong Jin Zhe (Sabah state assembly member), J Arul Kumar (Negeri Sembilan state assemblyperson), Chiong Yoke Kong (Pahang state assemblyperson), Edry Faizal (Selangor state assemblyperson), Satees Muniandy (Penang state assemblyperson), Sheikh Umar Bagharib Bin Ali (Johor state assemblyperson), Teh Swee Leong (Kedah state assemblyperson), Lim Yi Wei (Selangor state assemblyperson), Young Syefura Othman (Pahang state assemblyperson), Daniel Gooi Zi Sen (Penang state assemblyperson), Chris Lee Chun Kit (Penang state assemblyperson), Kerk Chee Yee (Malacca state assemblyperson), DAP Youth vice-chief Muhammad Shakir Ameer and Syahredzan Johan.

They urged the PN government to show its commitment towards the issue by holding the Dewan Rakyat sitting as soon as possible so that the law amendments can be tabled and passed. - Mkini