By Yussof J. Imbang
KOTA KINABALU; The proposal to amend the Road Transport Act 1987 (Act 333) announced by the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, in the presentation of Budget 2027 on Friday needs to be drafted more strictly.
In welcoming the amendment, the Chairman of the Government Supporters Club (BBC), Datuk Masiung Banah, urged the government to speed up the new act as a drastic punishment for drunk drivers and drug addicts.
He said the BBC sees the new act as appropriate to oblige drivers under the influence of alcohol and drugs to pay compensation to victims and victims’ families.
“In addition to paying compensation, the BBC suggested that the act be drafted more drastically, allowing offenders’ vehicles to be seized and disqualified, especially involving death and serious injury.
“If Malaysia can permanently impound commercial lorries for carrying excessive loads, it would be fair if imposed on cases of drunken or delusional drivers,” he said in a statement today.
According to Masiung, the proposal needs to detail a number of conditions that allow for mandatory confiscation, including repeated offences.
He explained that the offender’s vehicle must be seized at the scene of the incident before a confiscation notice is issued to the owner within 48 hours.
Masiung insisted that the case should be brought to court; after conviction and a disqualification order should be issued, the offender’s licence should also be frozen.
The Kuamut assemblyman said that the ownership of vehicles should be transferred to the government before being auctioned after a minimum period of 90 days.
He explained that the proposal also takes into account the protection of innocent third-party owners such as parents, employers and government agencies.
He said that the new transfer should have discretion in cases involving the B40 group, especially involving motorcyclists for a first offence with a low alcohol level.
