Asset seizures alone won’t cut road deaths, says expert

A road safety expert has warned that seizing the assets of traffic offenders is not enough to curb road fatalities. At a recent meeting, Universiti Putra Malaysia’s Law Teik Hua stated that while asset seizures may serve as a financial deterrent, they do not necessarily change driving behavior or reduce the number of road deaths. He urged the government to focus on persistent enforcement against specific offenses like drunk driving, speeding, and running red lights, as well as improving the Kejara demerit points system.

The expert emphasized that the government should not solely rely on severe penalties. Instead, the causes of accidents should be tackled comprehensively through measures such as safer road design, addressing high-risk locations, and automated enforcement. Law suggested creating an interim compensation fund to ensure victims and families receive compensation while the offenders' assets are being sold.

Haezreena Begum Abdul Hamid, a criminologist from Universiti Malaya, added that any asset seizure must have a solid legal foundation and protect innocent family members from collateral damage. She stressed that financial penalties alone would not reduce traffic offenses without consistent law enforcement efforts.