PRESS STATEMENT
MALAYSIAN CONSULTATIVE COUNCIL OF BUDDHISM, CHRISTIANITY, HINDUISM, SIKHISM AND TAOISM (MCCBCHST)
ALL DRIVERS WHOSE DRIVING POSES A DANGER TO ROAD USERS TO BE DEALT WITH ADEQUATELY
6 JUNE 2020
The Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism (MCCBCHST) notes that the Minister of Law Takiyuddin Hassan had on May 29 pledged to table amendments to the Road Transport Act at the next Dewan Rakyat session in July 2020 to impose heavier penalties for drunk driving.
Whilst the MCCBCHST does not condone drunk driving but is of the view that any action proposed including tabling amendments regarding drunk driving must be holistic in nature and include all drivers whose driving poses a danger to the public.
There appears to be an effort to only target drunk drivers as is borne out by the daily reports by Bernama on drunk drivers which are then picked up by other newspapers and reported. It appears that a non-issue is being made into an issue. This is because the statistics show that between 2011 to 2019 (9 years) there were only 47 drunk driving related road deaths in Malaysia out of a total of 55,887road-related deaths. Thus, drunk driving deaths amount to less than 0.1% of all accident related deaths (See Malaysiakini,: ‘Drink-driving caused 47 of 55,000 road deaths in nine years’ reported by Consumer Activist, Deepak Gill, which was published, 1st June 2020.
The MCCBCHST believes that all persons whose driving poses a danger to the public, should be dealt with adequately and not target only drunk drivers. The other 99.9% of cases involving dangerous driving like recklessness, speeding, beating of traffic lights, driving under the influence of legal and illegal drugs, ketum, texting and reading messages on mobile phones etc., must be addressed accordingly.
We applaud the Transport Minister for giving the assurance that all forms of reckless driving will be addressed to ensure our roads are safer for all users. MCCBCHST hopes there will be comprehensive and frequent road safety campaigns to create awareness of good driving etiquette amongst all road users.
-Ends-
Statement issued and endorsed by:
1. Archbishop Julian Leow Beng Kim
Christian Federation Malaysia (CFM)
President MCCBCHST
2. Sardar Jagir Singh
Malaysian Gurdwaras Council (MGC)
3. Datuk R.S. Mohan Shan
Malaysia Hindu Sangam (MHS)
4. Dao Zhang Tan Hoe Chieow
Federation of Taoist Associations Malaysian (FTAM)
5. Venerable Sing Kan
Malaysian Buddhist Association (MBA)
Sent by:
Gowri PS Thangaya
Hon. Sec Gen
MCCBCHST
013 3563100
