The government has ruled out the introduction of the death penalty for offences under the Road Transport Act 1987, including cases involving drink-driving, Transport Minister Anthony Loke said today.
He said current legal provisions are already adequate to handle serious offences, adding that offenders can still be charged under the Penal Code, including Section 302 for murder where applicable, The Star reported.
“As far as the government is concerned, we have already stopped mandatory death penalties,” he told reporters after attending a road safety programme at Tunku Abdul Rahman University of Management and Technology.
He added that reintroducing capital punishment is not being considered, even in response to calls from the Opposition.
Instead, Loke said the government is prioritising stronger victim protection measures through planned amendments to existing laws, including provisions that would require convicted offenders to compensate victims’ families.
He said the current legal process forces families to pursue civil action, which is often lengthy, costly and complicated.
Under the proposed changes, compensation would be made part of sentencing, alongside imprisonment and fines.
Loke said the amendments are expected to be tabled in the Dewan Rakyat in June, with the Road Transport Department and the Land Public Transport Agency working with the Attorney General’s Chambers on the drafting process.
He also said broader reforms are being studied to address drink-driving cases, following a fatal crash in Klang last month involving a motorcyclist and a driver suspected of being under the influence of alcohol and drugs.
