Opposition chief Anwar Ibrahim today echoed calls for the Perikatan Nasional government to speed up amendments on laws penalising drunk-driving offences.
Speaking in a Facebook Live session this afternoon, Anwar (above) said existing penalties provided under the Road Transport Act were not enough to deal with those who operated vehicles while under the influence of alcohol.
"Even in the West, there are laws that prevent driving once a person consumes alcohol regardless of them being drunk or not. Because the risk is there.
"So the government must tighten the laws as what had been suggested by the Pakatan Harapan administration before this," he said.
Anwar, who is PKR president and chairperson of the Harapan opposition coalition, was commenting on recent incidences of fatal road accidents involving what police claim were instances of drunk-driving.
The incidents have reignited public debate on punishments for drunk-driving and saw mounting calls for the government to introduce heavier sentences for those found guilty of such offences.
Under the existing provisions of the Road Transport Act, a person found guilty of driving under the influence of alcohol faces a jail sentence of not more than 12 months and a fine between RM1,000 and RM6,000.
Anwar said this was one of the reasons why the country needed Parliament to have a proper sitting as soon as possible so that important matters such as law amendments could be tabled and passed.
"This is the problem when there is no Parliament sitting. Sometimes people ask why we keep pushing for a Parliament sitting to be held as soon as possible.
"If we want to amend the Road Transport Act, if we want to punish drunk-driving, how are we going to do it without new laws? It can only be done through Parliament.
"Heavier punishment is needed so that this offence can be prevented. And I urge that this matter is sped up and no compromise should be given in punishing drivers who are under the influence of either alcohol or drugs and who put human lives at risk," he said.
On another matter, Anwar expressed concern over the rising unemployment rate in the country.
He said projections made by the Malaysian Institute of Economic Research and Malaysian Employers Federation were worrying.
The bodies expect Malaysia to see an unemployment rate of 9.2 percent and 13 percent respectively, by the end of this year.
"This means between half-a-million and one million people will be unemployed. This is very worrying.
"Because when they lose their jobs, they also lose their income thus leading to other problems like failure to settle their house rentals, their children's' school fees and such. The country's economy will not be able to develop as well."
Anwar urged the government to come up with a more comprehensive plan to ramp up the economy while at the same time not compromising on the people's safety during the Covid-19 pandemic.
This, he added, can be done by holding wider discussions to come up with a viable economic plan for the country.
Anwar said while the government has taken the initiative to help small and medium industries by giving salary incentives, it was still not enough to buffer the economic impact brought on by the pandemic.
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