Death Penalty for Fatal Corruption?

 

The Klang road tragedy has become racialised online. The blame has turned into racial stereotypes of a “drunk Indian”, while forgetting he was also high on dadah, or drugs, which are normally typecast with another racial group. The video of the accident was horrific.

Now, some are calling for the death penalty. But let’s be consistent. What about other dangerous, negligent, and corrupt behaviour that causes death? 

Some are “high” on reckless riding or driving, while others are “drunk” on bribes. All have deadly consequences.

 

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org

1. Mat Rempit

Motorcyclists made up two-thirds of 6,537 road deaths in 2025, with those aged 16 to 30 at the highest risk, according to the transport minister. In contrast, there were only 69 cases of fatal drink driving over 10 years (2011-2021), according to police statistics. 

This is not to downplay the need to punish drunk drivers, but to ask: why isn’t there similar outrage against the notorious Mat Rempit? 

2. Logging and deadly landslides 

Five people were killed in December 2021 near Bentong, Pahang, after deadly landslides laden with mud and logs. Or is it ‘Tuhan punya pasal’, as late Samy Velu will put it. 

3. Dangerous lorry, bus drivers

We have become immune to news of bus and lorry accidents. A total of 203 bus-related accidents occurred in Malaysia from January 2023 to May 2026, resulting in 39 deaths and 68 serious injuries. The causes, said police, included overworked drivers chasing tight schedules, speeding on wet roads, brake failure, worn-out tyres, and yes, drugs. News reports also point to drivers being hired despite multiple past traffic violations. Biasa la (normal la). Somehow, these don’t raise the same level of indignation as alcohol.

 

In May 2025, nine FRU men near Teluk Intan were killed by a lorry driver with six past criminal cases for drugs, rape, and theft. The carnage continues. In March, a trailer lorry smashed into three cars in Penang, causing serious injuries. The driver tested positive for syabu or methamphetamine. 

A study revealed that fatal road accidents involving heavy vehicles like lorries have claimed 1,457 lives from 2019 to 2024. That’s one life lost every 36 hours. Luckily, deaths declined in 2025. 

Finally, let’s come to government responsibility. In June last year, a tragic accident on the East-West Highway killed 15 UPSI students. Six months later, a Transport Ministry special task force released its findings. 

Highways have guardrails to prevent vehicles from plunging into ravines. However, at the accident site, they acted not to save the bus, but as a giant “spear” piercing through the left side of the vehicle, causing 11 of the 15 deaths. How did this happen? The spacing between guardrail posts was 3.8m, far over the 2m limit. The guardrail panels were installed against the flow of traffic, and multiple bolts were missing. Instead of cushioning the bus, the end of the guardrail snapped and failed to fold upon impact, becoming a sharp, piercing object. 

So, if we’re calling for drunk drivers to be hanged, what about bus and lorry drivers on drugs? What about corrupt officers who enable this bloodbath on the roads? What about transport companies that hire drivers with multiple misdeeds? 

Reference:

COMMENT | Death penalty for fatal corruption, not just drink driving? Andrew Sia, Malaysiakini, 2 Apr 2026