KUALA LUMPUR, Feb. 22 -- What will it take for Malaysians to drink and drive responsibly given that the country already has one of the harshest punishments already in place for those charged with a drink-driving offence.

Under Section 44 of the Road Transport Act 1987, a motorist if convicted of charges relating to drink-driving has to pay a fine of not less than RM8,000 up to a maximum of RM20,000 and jail time of a minimum of three years.

Drink-driving is also chargeable under other sections of the Act, where punishments entail fine and imprisonment.

Perhaps these punishments have not been publicised enough, because as of February 13, the Kuala Lumpur Traffic and Investigation Department head ACP Zulkefly Yahya said a total of 158 in...