On January 29, Transport Minister Anthony Loke announced that the government had agreed to amend the law to impose more severe penalties on persons driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs; as well as those driving dangerously and causing death. For the first five months of this year, there were 21 cases with eight deaths. KUALA LUMPUR - A spate of drink driving incidents, including three recent fatal ones, has made the issue a powerful political weapon pitting the Malay-led Perikatan Nasional (PN) government of Muhyiddin Yassin's against the Democratic Action Party (DAP), the Chinese-based faction with the biggest number of lawmakers in the opposition. Drunk driving remains to be a heavily contested issue among the local community here, with many Malaysians arguing on what should be the appropriate course of action taken by the government to ensure that they do not happen again. But the point of the matter is that, even if we took the UNESCAP numbers, Nobody hates drunk drivers more than those who drink responsibly.". Professor James Chin, director of the Asia Institute at University of Tasmania, said the moves to politicise the issue come as PN attempts to find its footing, ahead of the July parliamentary sitting. Of course, since then, the government has been replaced, and … Now the pressure is on PN's Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA), a Chinese-based party in the ruling coalition. Although the assessment may be subjective, an officer's evaluation may allow him to determine whether the suspect's ability to drive was impaired. Literally nobody supports drunk drivers, you can ask any non-Muslim. This is the first time that the cases of drunk driving are in double digits; the incidence was as high as 778 last year. How I Win Michigan Drunk Driving Cases for My Clients | Over the course of my career, I have beaten a few hundred drunk driving cases in Michigan, and nearly everyone knows it in the legal community. Of the total drunk driving cases registered last week, 1,814 persons were caught of the new year eve which include 931 cases under Cyberabad, 496 and … Some Malaysians urge harsher punishments, including the death penalty, against drunken drivers. Sign up for the ST Asian Insider newsletter to get exclusive insights into Asia from our network of overseas correspondents. “Drunk driving often happens after midnight and the death toll due to alcohol intoxication last year was just one while in 2018 there were three cases,” he told Bernama in a special interview at the Traffic Police Station here recently. According to the WHO's Global Status report on Road Safety for 2015, South Africa is … Shame. "They are free to do so, as long as they abide by the laws relating to it," he said in a statement, adding that the government backed the proposal of a mandatory jail term for drink driving, and will also seek to raise the fine and increase the jail term for drunken drivers. The holiday season brings a host of parties, gatherings, and work functions. On May 3, a policeman was killed after a suspected drunk driver rammed into him at a roadblock on the Kajang-Seremban Highway. They would be chargesheeted in the court and driving licences (seized) will be referred to the Regional Transport Authority seeking their suspension, police said. Drunk driving: 2,351 cases booked in Cyberabad New variant: 12 special wards for Covid positive people in Telangana One more UK returnee tests … It is as though lives have no worth when these drunk drivers are on the road. With alcohol consumption commonly associated with non-Muslims, the issue often ignites a racial backlash in Malaysia, leading to a blame game against the non-Malays, particularly when the victims were Malay. It stems from weak laws and enforcement apart from the selfish and stubborn nature of drunkards," the party's information chief Kamaruzaman Mohamad said in a statement on Tuesday (May 26). According to the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, the proportion of drunk driving in fatal road traffic accidents in Malaysia ranged from a low of 0.48 per cent (33 cases) in 2011 to a high of 3.41 per cent (229 cases) in 2015. Cook Islands Police have arrested at least seven individuals in the final days of 2020, after tests had confirmed they had been operating motorised vehicles with excess blood alcohol. But the point of the matter is that, even if we took the UNESCAP numbers, drunk driving still amounts to less than 5% of fatalities on Malaysian roads in any given year. The conduct of local law enforcement officials in drunk driving cases is under scrutiny after a spate of arrests for driving under the influence of alcohol during the holiday season. Calls for stricter drunk driving laws (especially in cases where innocent people are injured or killed), involved increasing jail time to a total of 20 years under the aforementioned laws, according to Bernama. The traffic police booked 3,287 drunk driving cases in the year 2020 and 33 licenses of those convicted for the offences were suspended during the year. Moreover, according to Nordin (n.d), he claims that government also takes lot actions to reduce the numbers of road accidents. A … TNB- Electric ... Berita Nasional Malaysia merupakan Peneraju dalam perkhidmatan berita dan maklumat mempelawa calon warganegara Malaysia yang layak untuk menyertai kami : Tiada kekosongan jawatan. DAP on Wednesday said that former transport minister Anthony Loke had planned to amend the laws to impose stricter punishments for drunken drivers, and that this would have been brought to Parliament this year. Police resumed the drive against drunken driving recently after discontinuing it following the outbreak of Covid-19. The Selangor State Assembly which entered its second day witnessed only a single BN State Assemblyman given the chance to debate. HYDERABAD: Cyberabad police have booked 2,351 cases against motorists in December for riding vehicles under the influence of alcohol. Get unlimited access to all stories at $0.99/month for the first 3 months. SPH Digital News / Copyright © 2021 Singapore Press Holdings Ltd. Co. Regn. "I just want to ask Najib one question, why did his government not amend the laws during his nine years of rule?". All rights reserved. When it comes to fatalities from drunk driving, one country stands out from the rest. Share gift link below with your friends and family. Recently, the police revealed its statistics on drunk driving cases. Under current laws, drunken drivers who cause injury or death can be jailed for a maximum 10 years and fined up to RM20,000 (S$6,500). In many of these celebrations, the alcohol flows freely, which can contribute to an increase in drunk driving accidents.These accidents can lead to serious injury, death, and a many other undesirable consequences, especially if you’re the drunk driver. Following calls for harsher punishments against offenders this week, Tan Sri Muhyiddin said today (May 30) that he had ordered the Transport Ministry to amend existing laws to allow heavier penalties to be meted out. "The issue of drink driving, which used to be a major issue for the opposition BN and PAS, is no longer a priority now that they are in government," it said in a statement, referring to the Barisan Nasional coalition. Cases involving aggravations, life-changing or fatal injuries are prosecuted on indictment via the sheriff solemn or high court. Mr. Essen is the author of the Practice Guide volume of Matthew Bender's 4-volume Defense of Drunk Driving Cases. The rest of the members who were granted the permission to debate were from PKR and DAP. Posted in Personal Injury on November 17, 2017. Ranga Reddy: There was a huge rise in the drunk driving cases on the New Year's eve with a total of 931 cases registered across Ranga Reddy district. In the west, weekends are usually meant to be allotted for drinking revelry. From the same Transport Ministry data, drink driving accidents were also shown to have resulted in 539 individuals being seriously injured from 2011 to 2018, and 595 suffering minor injuries during the same eight-year period. You have reached your limit of subscriber-only articles this month. These deaths have fallen by a third in the last three decades; however, drunk-driving crashes claim more than 10,000 lives per year. By using the Islamic card, the issue may force PKR and its ally Parti Amanah Negara, a moderate Islamic party, to take a stand and create a split in the opposition PH coalition. Asked about the government’s proposal to amend existing laws on drunk driving, driving under the influence of drugs and reckless driving, Zulkefly said the police welcomed the proposal. DRUNK DRIVING CASES IN THE NEWS (JAN - JUNE 2020) CASES IN MALAYSIA. 2019 was the most dangerous year for drivers on Malaysian roads since 2012, with an eight-year high in the number of road accidents. As with most UK-wide legislation, the penalties and sentencing guidelines for drunk driving in Scotland mirror those in effect in England and Wales. Recently there's been an increase in drunk driving accidents in Malaysia. For the eight-year period from 2011 to 2018, a total of 1,147 people lost their lives in drink driving accidents in Malaysia, based on these figures. The Consequences of Drunk Driving in Malaysia. He cited World Health Organisation statistics which ranked Malaysia as tenth in the world in alcohol consumption, with over RM2 billion (S$650 million) spent on alcoholic beverages in 2016, and said that beer consumption was at a "worrying level.". In 2010, the most recent year for which cost data is available, these deaths and damages contributed to a cost of $44 billion that year. The government has recently tabled tougher penalties on drink Currently, he said driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs resulting in injury or death is a serious offence under the Road Transport Act 1987 adding that offenders could be charged under Section 44 with a jail term of three to 10 years and a fine of between RM8, 000 and RM20,000. He said the PN government, which PAS is a part of, must set up a special Cabinet committee comprising several ministries to combat the scourge. Maybe you are actually guilty, but you have the right to exercise the same defenses that every innocent person maintains in this country. On a more positive note, this is the lowest number of fatalities recorded by NHTSA ever since … On May 25, a man was killed after a driver, believed to be drunk, drove against traffic and collided into him in Kuantan. Among the persons who were caught, 1,763 were two-wheeler riders and 480 were driving four-wheelers. In Malaysia, under the existing law, drunk driving is only subject to Section 45A (1) of the Road Transport Act 1987 which provides for a fine of not … The Islamist Parti Islam SeMalaysia (PAS) had earlier called for the sale of alcohol to be halted until the issue is resolved, and there are accusations on social media blaming the former Pakatan Harapan government for not banning alcohol sales in neighbourhood stores, a sensitive issue in Muslim-majority Malaysia. According to police, the number of drunk-driving cases between January and March this year was 27,376, down 27.7 percent from the same period last year. Sekinchan, drunk driving case, student killed. I’m really sick of seeing the same posts every week making drunk-driving a racial/religious issue. On Friday, a courier died after his motorcycle was hit by a drunk driver in Kuala Lumpur. “If a person’s alcohol content level exceeds the permitted level, the owner of the premises may take the initiative and advise them not to drive,” he added. Innocent people have died and family members are lost. Muhyiddin Yassin says there have been 21 road accidents involving drunk drivers so far this year, with eight deaths, compared to only 23 cases reported last year. The number of DUI deaths per year shows that 30% of the total number of traffic deaths happened because alcohol was involved. Loke said his ministry would initiate discussions with stakeholders including the police, the attorney general and relevant agencies to enable the amendment to be brought to Parliament as early as July. They can read the article in full after signing up for a free account. KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 13 — A total of 158 individuals were arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol in the capital city throughout January this year, said Kuala Lumpur Traffic and Investigation Department (JSPT KL) head ACP Zulkefly Yahya. One judge interrupted a prosecutor’s Malaysia 's frequent drunk-driving deaths have captured the attention of the country's finance minister, Lim Guan Eng. HPG spokesman Superintendent Elizabeth Velasquez said public awareness on the dangers of texting while driving has improved as the police noted a significant decrease in cases of road accidents involving drivers using mobile phones. The Malaysian authorities clearly take driving under influence very, very seriously, and for good reason. Read 3 articles daily and stand to win ST rewards, including the ST News Tablet worth $398. It is saddening that most of the cases involving drunk driving led to fatal accidents. 2013. NEW CLUSTER. Notes: An alternate number is the Royal Malaysia Police Operations Center in Kuala Lumpur, 03-2115-9999 or 03-2262-6555 Similarly, Rachakonda police in a press note said they booked 3,287 cases in connection with drunken driving in 2020. This is especially true after a string of recent drunk driving accidents, the most recent of […] Literally nobody supports drunk drivers, you can ask any non-Muslim. The Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) statistics show 21 cases of drunk driving were recorded just in the first five months this year involving eight deaths, a significant increase compared to 23 cases of drunk driving accidents recorded throughout last year. This compared to 229 in 2015, which made up 3.41 per cent of overall casualties. (NHTSA) There were 10,908 traffic-related deaths due to alcohol in the year 2017; a year later, the number went down to 10,511 deaths. 198402868E. Until we resolve the issues, subscribers need not log in to access ST Digital articles. As such, there’s a real need for harsher laws and better enforcement. The conduct of local law enforcement officials in drunk driving cases is under scrutiny after a spate of arrests for driving under the influence of alcohol during the holiday season. All done! The proportion of drunk driving accidents in total are also low when compared to the overall number of accidents (450k – … But despite the concern over drink driving, police statistics show that the number of accidents involving drink driving have actually gone down over the last few years. This article is now fully available for you, Please verify your e-mail to read this subscriber-only article in full. Muhyiddin Yassin says there have been 21 road accidents involving She was driving a Toyota Vios when she went into the opposite lane and caused a massive accident at 1.15am yesterday (July 8). Although it happens frequently, the existing law does not seem to bring any impact as the incidents keep repeating. Malaysia U-turns on approval for Heineken, Carlsberg to operate during coronavirus lockdown after backlash, Heineken clarifies its alcohol-free beer aimed only at non-Muslims in Malaysia, Suspected bootleg liquor poisoning in Malaysia claims another 8 lives, bringing total toll to 29, Non-Malays fret over their future under new Malaysian government, Race and religion remain Malaysia's most divisive issues: The Star columnist, Race and religious rhetoric heats up 'New Malaysia', Boycotts along racial, religious and nationalistic lines are hypocritical: The Star columnist. Oceania Australia Everyone rational supports heavier penalties. Both sides of the political divide have accused each other of not tackling drunken drivers effectively. By registering, you agree to our T&C and Privacy Policy. The gift link for this subscriber-only article has expired. Jangan duduk senyap-senyap and let this go by, cos these cases … No. — Bernama, Police constable, two jobless men charged with gang robbery in Iskandar Puteri, Sibu police say viral video has nothing to do with MCO in Pasai Siong, Putrajaya police: Supermarket worker in viral video compounded for SOP violation. In 2018, there were 54 deaths due to drunk driving, or 0.85 per cent of overall road crash casualties, and in 2017, 58 or 0.86 per cent. Drunk driving is very dangerous we need to remember that, there is always some significant person in our life waiting for us to go back home with safety. Not a single drunk driving case was recorded on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway. "PN is using this issue to put DAP and PH on the defensive as DAP and PKR (Parti Keadilan Rakyat) are not against drinking by non-Muslims.". He said his proposed amendments would be passed soon. thehansindia.com. In Cyberabad police limits, the one causing the road accident and the victim undergo the drunk driving test. Every day, almost 30 people in the United States die in drunk-driving crashes — that's one person every 50 minutes. Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong, the current Transport Minister, spoke in Parliament earlier this week. Reactions by netizens have been racially-charged, while the issue has also been turned into a religious one by some. Ranga Reddy: There was a huge rise in the drunk driving cases on the New Year's eve with a total of 931 cases registered across Ranga Reddy district.During the inspection conducted at … Drunk driving is the act of driving under the influence of alcohol.A small increase in the blood alcohol content increases the relative risk of a motor vehicle crash.. In the United States, alcohol is involved in 30% of all traffic fatalities. We have been experiencing some problems with subscriber log-ins and apologise for the inconvenience caused. Hyderabad: 3,571 drunk driving cases booked by police last week. Law student Ming Yao wrote on Twitter on May 23: "I'm really sick of seeing the same posts every week making drunk-driving a racial/religious issue. "Drink driving should not be viewed lightly. KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 13 — A total of 158 individuals were arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol in the capital city throughout January this year, said Kuala Lumpur Traffic and Investigation Department (JSPT KL) head ACP Zulkefly Yahya. News / Copyright © 2021 Singapore press Holdings Ltd. Co. Regn and Drugged Act. Have reached your limit of subscriber-only articles this month captured the attention of the Anti-Drunk and driving... Author of the political divide have accused each other of not tackling drunken drivers stands. But a log-in is still required for our PDFs Lucky jr. ( r_marvelous... In connection with drunken driving in Scotland mirror those in effect in England and.! 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