KUALA LUMPUR: The government is studying a proposal to seize the assets of motorists convicted of serious traffic offences to help compensate accident victims and their families.
Transport Minister Anthony Loke told the Dewan Rakyat today that the proposal was among several options being considered to ensure compensation could be paid, particularly in cases involving fatalities, serious injuries or permanent disabilities.
“We are also looking into whether the assets of offenders can be seized.
“However, I do not want to prejudge the matter because it is still under study. What matters is establishing a mechanism to ensure compensation can actually be paid to victims’ families,” he said.
Loke said the government was examining international best practices to develop a fair and effective compensation framework, while remaining open to input from legal experts, including those specialising in Islamic law.
However, he stressed that the proposed mechanism would operate within Malaysia’s common-law framework and apply to all offenders regardless of religion.
The proposal is part of planned amendments to the Road Transport Act 1987 (Act 333), which would empower courts to order motorists convicted of serious traffic offences to compensate victims or their lawful next of kin.
Loke said the Cabinet had agreed in principle to the amendments on July 15. The Transport Ministry is now consulting relevant ministries and enforcement agencies to finalise the proposed mechanism.
“The ministry intends to table the Bill in Parliament early next year, subject to policy finalisation, the legislative drafting process and ongoing consultations,” he said.
He emphasised that compensation orders would serve as an additional penalty rather than replace existing punishments, including imprisonment, fines and driving disqualification.
The proposed amendments aim to ensure that motorists responsible for fatal or serious crashes are held accountable not only through criminal penalties but also for the financial harm suffered by victims and their families.
Loke also said the government planned to strengthen the existing demerit points system, acknowledging that its current implementation had not provided an effective deterrent against traffic offences.
He said demerit points were imposed only after motorists paid their summonses, weakening the system’s ability to discourage dangerous driving.
“At present, the demerit points system is not being implemented effectively because points are only imposed after drivers pay their summonses.
“That does not provide a real deterrent,” he said.
Loke said the forthcoming amendments would address these shortcomings to ensure motorists faced more effective consequences for traffic violations.
Responding to Bangi MP Syahredzan Johan, who called for stronger preventive measures against driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, Loke said stricter penalties must be supported by sustained public awareness efforts.
He noted that alternatives such as e-hailing services were widely available, but said greater awareness was needed to discourage people from driving while impaired.
“No single law can solve all these problems. It requires various approaches and continuous cooperation from all parties to make our roads safer,” he said.