PUTRAJAYA: The Transport Ministry may consider tightening the laws to deal with the issues of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
Its minister Anthony Loke said the ministry would look at the effectiveness of existing laws including penalties to determine if they were sufficient or otherwise.
Under Section 45(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987, those who drive under the influence of liquor or drugs can be punished with a fine not exceeding RM1,000 and shall also be liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three months.
In the case of a second or subsequent conviction, the fine is not less than RM2,000 and not more than RM6,000, and shall also be liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months.
Saddened by an accident in Tawau that killed four people including a 16-year-old, Loke said the ministry would find the best solution to ensure such incidents do not recur.
“As of today, I have yet to get the full report about the case (in Tawau) and just read about it in the news reports. But I will get a complete report on the incident,” he told reporters before flagging off a convoy of 22 Porsche cars heading to Bangkok for the 70th Porsche anniversary celebration.
It was reported on Sunday that four were killed in the accident and two others were injured in a four-vehicle crash at Jalan Chong Thien Voon in Tawau, Sabah.
A 34-year-old woman, who was driving a Toyota Vios, allegedly under the influence of alcohol, had lost control of her car and went into the opposite lane during the 1.15am incident.
The car then collided with a Toyota Hiace, Perodua Bezza and Perodua Myvi which rammed into few people who were sitting at the parking lot of the BDC Commercial Centre.
On the Malaysian Aviation Commission (Mavcom), Loke said he had submitted several names to the Prime Minister for consideration to replace the commission’s chairman Tan Sri Gen (Rtd) Abdullah Ahmad.
He said it would be Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s prerogative as the prime minister to decide on the candidate for the Mavcom chairman position, adding that the salary for the said post would also be reviewed.
Loke had previously revealed that Abdullah drew a salary of about RM85,000 a month, four times more than Dr Mahathir was earning.
On Tabung Harapan Malaysia, Loke said he had received RM25,000 from participants of the Porsche convoy.
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