Despite the prevalence of accidents involving drunk drivers during the Movement Control Order (MCO), it seems that people are still resorting to the despicable act.

Kuala Lumpur police arrested 11 men for driving under the influence of alcohol, at four locations in the city, last night.

According to city police chief Mazlan Lazim, the suspects, aged between 30 and 50, were detained in operations at Jalan Klang Lama, Hartamas, Kepong, and Jalan Hang Tuah.

All the suspects, who have been detained for further action, are believed to have gotten drunk at restaurants which are licensed to sell alcohol, since pubs and bars are not allowed to operate during the Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO).

Yesterday, the Petaling Jaya police nabbed four men who were driving under the influence of alcohol.

District police chief ACP Nik Ezanee Mohd Faisal said they have arrested 11 people for drink driving during the MCO period, and the number of roadblocks in the district have been tripled to deter drink driving.

Of late, fatalities resulting from drink driving has been making the headlines almost on a daily basis.

Last Friday, a courier company employee was killed, and his colleague was seriously injured after a car driven by a drunk college student rammed into them on the Federal Highway, early in the morning.

Last Monday, fish wholesaler Teoh Kian Peng, 41, was charged with murdering an Alam Flora supervisor in Kuantan, on May 25. Teoh reportedly drove against traffic while drunk, before ramming into the victim, who was driving another vehicle.

On the same day, a 21-year-old drunk driver caused the death of a Foodpanda rider along Jalan Mahameru in Kuala Lumpur.

Khor Yong Zhang, who reportedly kept driving for about two kilometres with the victim's motorcycle still stuck to his vehicle, pleaded not guilty to a charge under Section 44(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987.

Yesterday, a retiree claimed trial at the Magistrate's Court in Balik Pulau, Penang, a charge of attempting to ram a police roadblock, while driving drunk, near the Queensbay Mall, last week.

The 64-year-old also reportedly uttered the words "polis bodoh" at the cops who had tried to stop him.

The Transport Ministry is now looking to amend the Road Transport Act to address the drink driving menace.

Harsher penalties will soon await those who drive under the influence of alcohol, drugs, and also resort to other forms of dangerous driving, such as illegal racing and "basikal lajak" (mosquito bikes), Transport Minister Wee Ka Siong had said.

Amid in the increase in drink-driving cases, the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) has also frozen the granting of new liquor licence applications, with immediate effect.

The local council said it will also carry out enforcement against premises that sell liquor without a licence.


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