Malaysia should urgently review its legal blood alcohol concentration (BAC) limit for motorists, with calls growing for stricter regulations to better protect road users from drink-driving tragedies.
Bagan Serai MP Datuk Idris Ahmad said the country’s current legal BAC limit of 0.08 per cent is significantly higher than several Asian nations, arguing that the existing threshold is too lenient. He pointed out that both Japan and South Korea enforce a maximum BAC of 0.03 per cent, while China sets an even stricter limit of just 0.02 per cent.
Speaking through a Facebook post on Tuesday, the PAS vice-president questioned why Malaysia continues to allow drivers with comparatively higher alcohol levels behind the wheel. He also shared a video of his speech in the Dewan Rakyat while debating the Road Transport (Amendment) Bill 2026, insisting that the issue of drink-driving must be addressed without further delay.
“How many more people must become victims because of drunk drivers?” Idris asked, stressing that stronger laws are needed to prevent avoidable road fatalities. He warned that Malaysia’s current BAC limit could give the impression that authorities are more permissive towards motorists driving under the influence of alcohol than many neighbouring countries.
Citing research by the Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (MIROS), Idris said motorists driving under the influence of alcohol face a crash risk that is up to 13 times higher than sober drivers. He urged the government to consider lowering the BAC limit as part of wider efforts to strengthen laws against drink-driving and improve public safety.
The lawmaker concluded that reviewing the BAC threshold would be a crucial step towards ensuring safer roads for everyone. He added that promoting healthy lifestyles would mean little if innocent road users continued to lose their lives because of irresponsible motorists who choose to drive while intoxicated.
During his speech, Idris also remarked that many Malaysians make an effort to stay healthy by exercising and maintaining proper diets, even referring to Tambun MP’s commitment to healthy living. However, he said such efforts could be rendered meaningless if people still face the constant risk of being killed in accidents caused by drunk drivers.
