Putrajaya targets early next year to table law compelling drunk, impaired drivers to compensate victims

PUTRAJAYA, Oct 12 — The Transport Ministry aims to introduce amendments to the Road Transport Act during the first parliamentary meeting of the coming year, according to Transport Minister Anthony Loke. These changes will empower courts to order intoxicated or drug-impaired drivers to compensate victims directly, stated Loke at a press conference.

The Cabinet has provisionally approved the policy, and the ministry is currently collaborating with the Attorney General’s Chambers to finalize the draft legislation. Loke explained that the proposed legal reform aims to consolidate criminal and civil proceedings, allowing trial judges to award financial restitution to victims during the criminal sentencing process, without the need for victims to initiate separate civil lawsuits.

Currently, victims must hire private lawyers and file independent civil suits to claim damages, which can be a lengthy and financially burdensome process. The ministry's reform, inspired by the principles of "Diyan", seeks to streamline this process by obligating wrongdoers to provide restitution to injured parties or bereaved families.

While the Cabinet has adopted the policy, Loke emphasized the importance of carefully drafting the Bill to establish clear mechanisms for assessing and enforcing payment amounts. The law will apply to all communities. Loke also confirmed that the Road Transport Department will provide full technical and data cooperation to the police in their investigation of a recent fatal hit-and-run collision along Jalan Kuching that resulted in the death of a five-year-old girl.