In July, it was reported that the cabinet had agreed in principle with the suggestion by the transport ministry to amend the Road Transport Act 1987 (Act 333) to have motorists who cause accidents while driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs compensate their victims.
The MoT said that the proposed move was to ensure that offenders not only face punishment like jail terms, fines and the loss of their driving licenses, but are made responsible for the effects of their actions on the victims and their next of kin. The suggestion had been brought forward by the transport ministry, and the cabinet had agreed in a July 15 meeting.
Now, it has been announced that the amendment is set to go through. During the tabling of Budget 2027 earlier today, prime minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said that the government would amend the law to make compensation mandatory for victims of accidents involving drunk or drug-impaired drivers.
