SARAWAK recorded no drink-driving accidents in the last one-and-a-half years, police statistics show.

Last year till June 10 this year, no road crashes or accidents involving drivers under the influence of alcohol were reported, state police traffic chief Supt Alexson Naga Chabu told The Malaysian Insight.

Drivers were detained at police roadblocks after failing breathalyser tests, he said, but even this number had fallen 51%. 

Chabu said between January 1 and June 10 last year, 107 drink-drivers were caught in 73 operations, while only 57 were caught in the same period this year.

All 107 drivers caught last year and 48 of the 57 caught this year have been charged in court under Section 45A(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987.

Chabu said police are waiting for instructions from the state prosecutors on the nine remaining drivers caught this year.

Sarawak Police Commissioner Aidi Ismail told The Malaysian Insight but police would not wait until a fatal accident occurs before taking drink driving seriously.

“We will continue preventive actions every weekend,” he added.

Lawyer Abun Sui Anyit said he backed stronger laws to deal with drink-drivers.

Under current provisions, those convicted for drink-driving can be charged under Section 45A(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987 which carries a fine of between RM1,000 and RM6,000 or jail of up to 12 months.

Drink-driving accidents that cause fatalities carry a 10-year jail sentence and a maximum fine of RM20,000 under Section 44 of the act.

Abun wants the law amended to make the jail sentence mandatory for fatal drink-driving accidents.

“When they are convicted for causing the death of other road users, jail should be a must.”

PAS Sarawak want authorities to implement strict measures, including compulsory breathalyzer test on all patrons leaving pubs, hotels and entertainment centres that serve alcohol throughout the state.

Zharudin Narudin, the Islamist party’s Sarawak information chief, also advocated revoking the business licence of premises that failed to comply with the breath testing.

PAS had also advocated for an immediate suspension of all production, businesses, and sales of alcohol while waiting for the new measures to prevent drink driving.

Sarawak Deputy Chief Minister James Masing, however, said this would infringe on the rights of people of different beliefs and their right to trade

Masing said PAS should not impose their religious prohibitions on alcohol to those of other religions who have no prohibitions on alcohol nor should PAS “disguise their (religious) motives by using other excuses”.

He said Malaysia is a multi-religious nation and it should be kept that way. – June 16, 2020.