Shafiq Iqram Abdullah, head of PKR Youth’s NGO and volunteers bureau, said drink driving should be treated as a systemic threat to public safety rather than merely an individual offence.

He suggested that local governments introduce “dram shop liability”, which would hold operators legally accountable if they “over-serve” customers, as a new clause in business licences for premises selling alcohol.

Shafiq also said producers of alcoholic beverages should be required to contribute to a road safety fund that would be used to channel aid to families of victims of drunk drivers.

He also suggested reviewing the hours in which customers can purchase alcohol from grocery and convenience stores.

The PKR man said these proposed reforms would safeguard public safety and ensure accountability across the alcohol supply chain.

“On average, Malaysia loses over RM9 billion a year to road accidents by way of treatment costs, damage to public property and lost of productivity.

“Each life lost due to negligence that can be prevented at the point of sale of alcoholic beverages is a major loss to the country’s human capital,” he said in a statement.