Drunk drivers may face asset seizure, extra jail for unpaid compensation – Loke
KUALA LUMPUR: The government is formulating a mechanism to seize assets and impose additional jail terms on drunk or drug-impaired drivers who fail to pay compensation to road crash victims or the families of those killed.
The Malaysian government is developing plans to seize assets and impose longer jail sentences for drivers who drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs and fail to pay compensation to crash victims or their families. Transport Minister Anthony Loke explained that these measures would give meaningful recourse when offenders claim they cannot afford to pay compensation.
Currently, if an offender cannot pay, they may face a larger fine or extra prison time. The government is also investigating the possibility of seizing offenders' assets to ensure compensation reaches the next of kin. These amendments to the Road Transport Act are expected to be introduced in parliament early next year. Additionally, the government plans to overhaul the demerit points system, which is considered ineffective because points are only deducted after offenders pay their traffic fines, reducing its deterrent impact.
Written by urgent.news from New Straits Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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