KUALA LUMPUR – Deputy National Unity Minister Yuneswaran Ramaraj has called for immediate and uncompromising action against drunk and drug impaired drivers, saying the country can no longer treat such tragedies as isolated incidents after innocent lives continue to be destroyed.
Yuneswaran made the remarks after visiting the family of the late A. Doraisingam and A. Menegah, the husband and wife who were killed in a horrific road crash along Jalan Ampang, allegedly caused by a driver believed to be under the influence of alcohol and drugs.
Visibly emotional over the tragedy, Yuneswaran said the visit deeply affected him after witnessing the pain endured by the couple’s three children, who lost both parents in an instant.
“No child should ever have to go through this kind of pain,” he said.
“One moment they still had a family to come home to. The next, everything was gone.”
“The eldest son is now forced to shoulder the responsibility of becoming the head of the family at a very young age. The second child had only just completed studies, while the youngest had barely begun chasing a future of his own.
“In just seconds, they lost not only their mother and father, but also the love, protection and emotional support every child depends on,” he added.
Yuneswaran stressed that every failure in enforcement today could eventually cost another innocent family their future, warning that stronger deterrence is urgently needed before more lives are shattered.
Among the measures proposed by the deputy minister are heavier mandatory prison sentences for offenders who cause death while driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, as well as lifetime driving bans for those responsible for fatal or serious injury cases.
He also urged authorities to intensify large scale roadblocks and surprise enforcement operations, especially during weekends, festive seasons and late night hours when such offences are more likely to occur.
At the same time, Yuneswaran called for stricter action against unlicensed alcohol selling premises, including shutting down illegal outlets, revoking business licences and prohibiting alcohol sales near residential areas, schools, places of worship and educational institutions.
He further proposed tighter controls on alcohol sales, including limiting operating hours and removing open displays of alcoholic products at counters and retail shelves similar to restrictions imposed on tobacco products.
“Young people must also be better protected through stricter enforcement against underage alcohol sales,” he said.
Yuneswaran added that the Road Transport Act should be comprehensively reviewed to introduce clearer and tougher punishments specifically for offences involving alcohol and drug impaired driving.
“The lives of Malaysians cannot continue to be treated cheaply. Drunk and drug impaired driving is not merely a traffic offence anymore. It is a serious threat to public safety,” he said.
He said he would continue monitoring the welfare of the victims’ children and look into further assistance that could be extended to the family from time to time.
Yuneswaran also expressed hope that justice would be served for the late couple and urged Malaysians to reflect on the tragedy to ensure public safety remains a national priority. -MalayaDailyToday
