SHAH ALAM, July 13 — The government has been urged to amend the Road Transport Act 1987 to allow the mandatory seizure and forfeiture of vehicles from motorists driving under the influence (DUI) of alcohol or drugs.
Former Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (MIROS) board member Shahrim Tamrin said the proposal comes amid rising concerns after DUI cases recorded in the first five months of this year reached the total figure reported for 2023.
“According to the data presented by the Transport Ministry in Parliament, the authorities arrested 912 individuals and recorded 48 fatal crashes involving DUI cases up to May 31.
"A total of 48 deaths have matched the record for all of 2023, even though annual arrests for DUI offenses have shown a downward trend in recent years."
"This situation indicates that enforcement on the ground is becoming lax, while the risk to road users remains high," he said in a statement yesterday.
The road safety activist also called for the government to amend the Act to allow for mandatory confiscation and forfeiture of vehicle ownership against repeat DUI offenders, cases involving drugs, high alcohol readings and cases that cause death or serious injury.
“If a lorry can be stripped of its rights for carrying an excessive load, why can't the same action be taken against drunk drivers who endanger lives,” he said.
Shahrim also proposed that proceeds from the auction of forfeited vehicles be channelled to the DUI victims' compensation fund and the road safety fund.
