You make pothole, you pay RM100,000

KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 16): Potholes are bane to motorists. Motorcyclists have been sent flying to injury while cars will end up with damaged wheels or having to have them balanced and aligned.

And if the authorities have their way, those who damage roads will soon end up paying a fine of up to RM100,000, or 100 times more than the current penalty of RM1,000.

According to a report by the Malaysiakini news portal, a bill to amend the Street, Drainage and Buildings Act 1974 will also include a fresh clause empowering local authorities to compel those who “cause such damage to either repair or foot the bill for the repair works”.

And it is not just public roads – wrecking footpaths, verandah ways, works and property belonging to local authorities will also be a punishable offence.

According to the Malaysiakini report, the punishment will be meted out “regardless of whether the damage was done intentionally or not”. Section 39 of the Act currently only penalises damage done "willfully".

Additionally, the report also said that the bill “seeks to raise the fine for taking up pavement space without permission from RM500 to RM50,000”.