Transport Minister Loke Siew Fook has dismissed the possibility of introducing the death penalty under the Road Transport Act for cases involving driving under the influence, despite recent public calls for harsher capital punishment.
Loke Siew Fook clarified that the government’s current policy stance is consistent with the recent abolition of the mandatory death penalty. He stated that the ministry is not considering capital punishment as an addition to the Act.
Addressing the severity of such offenses, Loke Siew Fook noted that drunk drivers who cause fatalities can already be charged with murder under existing laws.
He emphasized that the legal framework currently in place is sufficient to deal with the most serious cases.
Streamlining compensation for victims
The Transport Ministry is instead prioritizing proposed amendments to the law that would compel offenders to pay compensation directly to the families of victims.
This move follows a tragic fatal crash in Klang involving a driver allegedly under the influence of both alcohol and drugs.
Loke Siew Fook explained that the current process for families seeking redress is through civil action, which he described as tedious, time-consuming, and costly.
The new amendments aim to ease this burden by integrating compensation into the criminal proceedings.
By implementing these changes, the government hopes to ensure that families do not have to initiate separate civil lawsuits to obtain financial support.
Loke Siew Fook confirmed that the amendments are currently being drafted and are expected to be tabled during the parliamentary sitting in June.
Legislative context and opposition calls
The discussion regarding the death penalty was sparked by Opposition MP Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal, who called for the government to consider capital punishment for convicted drunk drivers.
He argued that choosing to drive while intoxicated should be viewed as having an automatic intent to kill.
Under the current Section 44 of the Road Transport Act 1987, those convicted of causing death while driving under the influence face between 10 to 15 years in prison and fines ranging from RM50,000 to RM100,000. Repeat offenders face even more stringent penalties.
Loke Siew Fook reiterated that the government will not compromise on the safety of road users.
He highlighted that murder charges have already been brought against two drivers in recent cases where their actions while under the influence led to the loss of life.
