PUTRAJAYA, Nov 15 — The Transport Ministry (MOT) will review fines against underage drivers as stipulated under the Road Transport Act (APJ) 1987, said Transport Minister Anthony Loke.
Speaking to the press after attending MOT’s Monthly Assembly today, he said all sections under the Act should also be reviewed from various aspects.
"(Regarding punishment) There is an existing law. Whatever fine is allowed under the current law is the maximum we can compound. In terms of law, we will review from time to time," he said when commenting on the fine provided under Section 26(2) of the APJ, which is said to be too lenient.
The Act provides a minimum fine of RM300 up to RM2,000 or imprisonment of up to three months, or both if convicted.
The latest case involving an underage driver took place on Sunday (November 11) in Penang, where a 16-year-old boy was driving his mother's car before being involved in an accident which caused two deaths on the Penang Bridge.
Asked if action would be taken against the parents of the underage driver in the incident, Loke said the department could not take action which exceeds its authority.
"Whatever provision that we can use is under the current Act. We cannot go beyond that. So when we carry out a review, we will look into other aspects that have to be included in the law," he said.
Without setting a period for reviewing the Act, Loke said MOT will seek feedback from the public and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to improve the Act.
Meanwhile, commenting on the MRT incident on the Putrajaya route, which experienced a schedule delay at 5.49pm yesterday due to a power outage between the Conlay and Chan Sow Lin Station and caused two trains to be unable to move, he said it should not have happened.
"I am very saddened by this matter because this line has been opened for less than a year," he said. The Putrajaya MRT line started operating on March 16.
Following that, Loke said he had asked MRT Corporation Sdn Bhd and Prasarana Malaysia Bhd (Prasarana) to provide a full report to the ministry.
— Bernama
