PUTRAJAYA: Section 41 of the Road Transport Act 1987 will be reviewed to allow for greater punishments to be imposed on guilty drivers who cause deaths, including introducing a life-long driving ban.
Transport Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook said the maximum imprisonment of 10 years currently imposed was too lax and had no major impact in preventing the offence.
“The government view seriously accidents involving deaths and want all parties to give it serious attention.
“The maximum sentence is 10 years imprisonment, and in most of the previous cases, the penalties imposed on offenders were less than 10 years jail and without caning … this should be reviewed including by introducing a life-long driving ban,” he told a media conference, here today.
Loke said the section which provided for a three-year suspension of the licence for the first offence was also inadequate with the offence committed.
He said the ministry would hold further discussions with stakeholders to scrutinise the impact if amendments were made to the section.
“While this review is important, it is expected to take a long time because it involves amendments to the act,” he added. — Bernama
