31/03/2026

TUESDAY | MAR 31, 2026

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Calls for harsher punishments against drunk drivers

More effort needed in treating DUI cases: MCA PETALING JAYA: Calls for tougher action against drunk and drug-impaired driving have intensified following Sunday’s fatal crash in Klang, sparking renewed scrutiny over enforcement, public awareness and whether victims’ families are adequately protected. MCA vice-president Datuk Lawrence Low said stronger follow-through is long overdue, stressing that punitive measures alone are not enough. “Efforts previously were not limited to stricter penalties alone, but were complemented by extensive public awareness campaigns to educate society on the dangers of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, as well as reckless driving.” He urged the Transport Ministry to clarify critical questions as he said: “Has enforcement been insufficient? Have the public awareness campaigns on the dangers of drug and alcohol-impaired driving, initiated in 2020, been discontinued following the change in government?” Amendments to the Road Transport Act 1987 under sections 41 to 45 previously introduced heavier penalties for driving under the influence (DUI) but Low said implementation must be sustained to make an impact. Meanwhile, Alliance for a Safe Community chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye rejected calls for the death penalty in fatal DUI cases, arguing that imprisonment remains the most appropriate course when guilt is established in court. “This is something that is very serious. But I feel that to call for the death penalty on that person is a bit on the extreme side. So, I feel that there should be mandatory imprisonment. “So, if he is charged and if it is proven that he is guilty, then I think he should be in prison. For how long? Maybe between three to five years of imprisonment. “But to sentence that person to death, I think that is, as I said, too extreme. That is why I say I disagree.” He added that enforcement must be carried out with integrity, particularly in breathalyser testing, and fines should remain high enough to deter repeat offending. Highlighting another systemic gap, Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) president Datuk Dr Thirunavukarasu Rajoo said families of victims often receive little direct support, even when offenders are punished. “Malaysia lacks a dedicated compensation mechanism for victims of DUI cases, whether involving alcohol or drugs. As a result, families are effectively failed twice, first by the incident and then by the system meant to deliver justice. “The MMA considers this unacceptable and in urgent need of reform. Justice must not stop at punishment. It must extend to protection, support and dignity for the families left behind.” Ű BY FAIZ RUZMAN newsdesk@thesundaily.com

The force of the impact flung the rider into the air and onto another car, killing him instantly. South Klang district police chief ACP Lim Jit Huey said the crash occurred at 11.40am and involved the motorcycle and two cars. Preliminary probes revealed that the car, driven by a man in his 20s, was travelling at high speed. He reportedly overtook several vehicles before veering into the opposite lane and colliding with the motorcyclist. Screening tests reportedly showed the driver was positive for alcohol and drugs. The case is being investigated under Section 44(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987, which carries between 10 and 15 years’ jail, a fine of between RM50,000 and RM100,000, and immediate suspension of the driving licence upon conviction. Investigations also involve Section 15(1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, which carries a maximum fine of RM5,000 or up to two years’ jail, as well as supervision for two to three years. Magistrate Siti Zubaidah Mahat ordered the suspect to be remanded for four days from yesterday to facilitate ongoing investigations.

Echoing these calls, Selangor exco V. Papparaidu urged tougher legal action, including maximum jail terms and caning. “This is no longer an isolated case. Far too many tragedies such as this have occurred. “Stricter enforcement and heavier punishments are needed to send a clear message. “Immediate support must also be extended to the victim’s family, especially when the deceased was the head of the household, to uphold justice and prevent similar incidents in the future.” He extended heartfelt condolences to the family of the deceased. “I am saddened by the crash in Jalan Raya Barat, Klang, which took the life of an innocent motorcyclist and father of two young children. “This incident again shows how dangerous driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs can be. It is devastating when such negligence claims the life of someone entirely innocent.” The tragedy unfolded when a man driving under the influence collided with a motorcyclist. A video of the incident shows a car hurtling down the wrong side of the road before striking the motorcycle.

General’s Chambers for prosecution. “The ministry views this incident seriously and stresses that the government will not compromise with any individual who drives under the influence of alcohol or drugs because it clearly endangers the lives of other road users.” He added that the ministry is also seeking to amend the Road Transport Act 1987 to require offenders to compensate victims’ families. “The ministry is drafting further amendments to the RTA to mandate that offenders provide compensation to victims’ families, alongside custodial sentences,” he said in a statement. Machang MP Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal described the collision as “extreme negligence”, adding that current penalties are failing to deter intoxicated drivers. “Incidents such as these keep repeating, proving that the current legal approach is no longer adequate to address an increasingly alarming issue of drunk driving. “When a person is under the influence of alcohol but still chooses to drive, the law properly assumes that he has an intention to kill because his actions are practically at a high risk of taking the life of another person.”

long-awaited Gig Workers Act 2025 (Act 872) comes into force today, but experts caution that the landmark law risks becoming more symbolic than transformative if urgent refinements are not made. Touted as a major step towards formalising the country’s growing gig economy, the Act has been widely welcomed, yet industry players say critical gaps in its implementation could undermine its intended protections from day one. Ahead of its enforcement, transport think tank MY Mobility Vision, together with a cross-sector coalition comprising industry partners, government agencies, academics and gig worker groups, has unveiled a policy roadmap aimed at bridging the gap between the Act’s ambitions and realities on the ground. Central to their concern is a fundamental issue often overlooked in policy design, namely what gig workers actually take home. MY Mobility Vision executive director Rahman Hussin said the current framework fails to adequately account for the heavy cost burden borne by workers, with expenses such as fuel, vehicle maintenance, insurance, platform commissions and social protection contributions consuming up to 80% of gross earnings. “Policies anchored on gross income risk overstating what workers actually earn and understating the protection they truly need. “That is not worker protection, it is the appearance of it.” He said key institutional and PETALING JAYA: The government must act decisively against drunk drivers, with calls rising for the death penalty and harsher punishments following a crash in Klang on Sunday that claimed the life of a motorcyclist. Transport Minister Anthony Loke noted that Putrajaya would take a zero-tolerance approach against motorists who drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs, describing the incident as “criminal negligence” that is wholly unacceptable. “This loss is deeply heartbreaking. Incidents such as this not only claim innocent lives but are also a form of criminal negligence that cannot be accepted at all,” he said, urging police to expedite investigations so that the case can be referred to the Attorney o Such incidents represent wholly unacceptable form of criminal negligence: Transport minister Ű BY HARITH KAMAL newsdesk@thesundaily.com

Policy roadmap aims to refine Gig Workers Act 2025 PETALING JAYA: Malaysia’s

Rahman said the current framework fails to adequately account for the heavy cost burden borne by workers. – ADIB RAWI YAHYA/THESUN

“Gig workers do not need symbolic protection. They need a system that reflects real costs, ensures fair earnings and treats governance institutions as more than a box-ticking exercise.” MY Mobility Vision has submitted its full policy paper to the relevant government agencies and indicated its readiness to provide technical input once the Consultative Council is established. “Malaysia’s gig workers have waited long enough. The question is no longer whether to act, but whether the Act will be implemented well.” – BY HARITH KAMAL

These include establishing a transparent and representative Consultative Council, shifting towards net earnings as the policy benchmark, and introducing dynamic, data-driven earnings floors that reflect real-world costs. It also calls for clearer rules governing worker deactivation and dispute resolution, a phased approach to mandatory social protection and greater transparency in algorithms that influence job allocation and pay. Rahman stressed that without these measures, the Act risks becoming a paper safeguard rather than a substantive one.

technical components of the Act remain unresolved even as it takes effect. “Act 872 provides the right framework, but with implementation beginning today, the Consultative Council is not yet formed and the earnings methodology remains undefined. “The government now faces a clear choice: enforce the letter of the law and hope for the best or get the engineering details right and ensure this law actually changes lives.” The roadmap outlines 10 recommendations to translate the legislation into meaningful safeguards.