The Star Online
MUAR: The Road Safety Department has been directed to carry out a viability study on express buses operating at night to prevent accidents.
Transport Minister Datuk Seri Ong Tee Kiat said he had received views and also discussed this with his counterparts in other countries on the matter.
Speaking to reporters here he said although a person had rested and slept during the day, it would be going against his biological clock to drive throughout the night.
“A person can become fatigued and we must accept the fact that the human body has been accustomed to resting or sleeping during the night,” he said.
The department is expected to complete the study soon, he said after opening the Muar Lions Club’s renal centre building in Sungai Abong yesterday.
Ong said besides night operation, the department would also consider extending the regulation on bus roof specifications for new buses to include older buses.
He said the specification was outlined by the United Nations Economic Commissions for Europe and the ministry wanted all buses to observe the R66 regulation ‑ which deals with roll over strength of buses.
He said the new regulation was imposed only on new buses but there were many old buses which the ministry felt should also comply with the R66 regulation.
Commenting to the crash of an express bus near Tangkak which killed 10 passengers recently, he said all related agencies would be involved in the study into the cause of the accident.
Saturday, December 20, 2008
Road Safety Dept to conduct study on buses
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
‘Introduce safety belts for express buses’
The Star Online
IPOH: The Government should make safety belts mandatory for express buses to minimise injuries and deaths from accidents.
Perak Gerakan publicity bureau chairman Choong Shean Yang said the safety of passengers would be greatly improved if seatbelts were used.
They would minimise injuries as passengers will not be thrown about during an accident or when the bus overturns, he said in a statement here Wednesday.
He said that the latest bus crash in Tangkak, Johor, on Sunday was a reminder that such a ruling was needed.
While bus operators had earlier objected to the move due to the cost, Choong said it was not valid anymore.
“Human life is more precious than the cost involved,” he said.
In the Sunday incident, 10 people, including a nine-year-old girl, were killed when the express bus they were in skidded and crashed into a tree at KM146.5 of the North-South Expressway near Tangkak.
They were among 26 passengers and two drivers heading to Johor Baru and Singapore from Perak in the 2am mishap.
Seven died at the scene while the others succumbed to their injuries at the Sultanah Fatimah Specialist Hospital here.
Sunday, December 7, 2008
Nine die, 19 injured in bus crash near Tangkak
MUAR: Nine people, including five women, were killed and 19 others injured after an express bus overturned at Km146 of the North-South Expressway near Tangkak early Sunday.
However, the identities of the dead, including the driver and co-driver, have yet to be ascertained.
Muar police chief ACP Nasir Mohd Ali said the bus was carrying 28 people, including the driver and co-driver, when the accident occurred at about 2am when it was travelling from Ipoh to Johor Baru.
The injured passengers and the nine bodies have been taken to the Sultanah Fatimah Specialist Hospital in Muar.
Initial investigation revealed that the driver lost control of the vehicle and it skidded and overturned, jolting the passengers out of their sleep.
The police and Fire and Rescue personnel took about an hour to remove the body of the driver who was pinned to his badly crushed seat.
Nasir is scheduled to give further details of the accident at a news conference later Sunday. - Bernama
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Rear Seatbelt Dilemma
SUNGAI PETANI: Parents with four children are confused as to how they are to seat all their children into the back of the car without being caught for overloading.
“We cannot leave a child behind in the house when going out, neither can we afford to buy another vehicle to adjust to the new requirement on rear seat belts,” lamented trader Nordin Ahmad from Bandar Perdana Jasmin.
Nordin, 44, drives an Iswara Aeroback and is worried how he, his wife and four children would fit into their car without running the risk of being stopped by a policeman.
Road Safety Department director-general Datuk Suret Singh has warned that motorists with more than three rear seat passengers could be fined for overloading.
“I am a low-income earner and have no other choice but to use only my Iswara for family travels. It is unfair to hold the driver responsible for ferrying more than three children in the rear seats,” said Nordin whose children ranged from seven to 13 years of age.
Restaurant operator Yeow Boon Fey, 44, from Taman Legenda Indah, said he would now have problems going out with his four children, aged between three and 15, his wife Yong Nyok Ching, 40, and mother Kong Yoke Mooi, 68.
“Tell me, what should I do? Should I buy another car or leave behind my mother or some of my children? I am confused.
“The authorities should be less rigid when imposing the regulations. We are not operating taxis but only want to take our family out in our car,” said Yeow, who has a Viva fitted with rear seat belts.
Kindergarten teacher Suzana Abdul Aziz, 38, from Taman Seri Jenaris, who also has four children, aged between five and 12, said although her family had a second car, they relied on their Iswara for balik kampung trips.
Mohd Desa Saidin, 42, a clerk at the National Registration Department in Kulim and married with four children aged between six and 13, said wearing rear seat belts was no guarantee that accidents would not endanger passengers’ lives.
“Even with all the safety measures, there are fatal accidents. What about accidents involving buses where many passengers die? Buses do not have safety belts,” he said.
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Two More Perished in NSE Bus Crash
Adapted from The Star newspaper
RAWANG: Two people were killed and seven others seriously injured when the express bus they were in crashed into a divider before overturning at the 406th kilometre on the North-South Expressway.
The bus, Allison Express, carrying 18 passengers, was heading to Singapore from Penang when the driver was believed to have lost control of the vehicle while negotiating a bend during the 1.30pm incident yesterday.
The dead have been identified as Husaini Karim, 52, from George Town and Khoo Kheng Ch’ng, 77, from Ayer Hitam.
Selangor traffic police chief Supt Che Hussin Omar said, initial investigations revealed the driver lost control of the bus due to slippery road conditions following a heavy downpour.
“Two passengers died on the spot while those seriously injured have been warded at the Slim River and Sungai Buloh hospital,” he said.
Supt Che Hussin said the 44-year-old bus driver had three traffic summonses. An arrest warrant had also been issued for the driver.
A couple who only wanted to be known as Fong, 74, and his wife Lim, 68, said the driver had not been speeding.
“We did not feel the bus driver was speeding or driving recklessly. I believe the crash was because of the slippery road,” a bruised Fong, who was sitting in the front row, said.
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
Government wants bus passengers to belt up while on the road
KUALA LUMPUR: The Government will make it compulsory for passengers on new buses to wear seat belts, particularly those on tourist coaches, Deputy Transport Minister Datuk Seri Lajim Ukin said.
He said the installation of seat belts was made compulsory for new buses, in line with the international standard as set by Act 80 of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe from November 2007.
“The Government will enforce seat-belt fitting for new buses soon,” he said in reply to Senator Lee Chee Keong at the Dewan Negara yesterday.
Some tourist buses have already installed seat belts, out of responsibility to meet the international standards he said, adding that foreign tourists felt better having them.
On the requirement for cars to be fitted with rear seat belts, he said, it only applied to cars manufactured after Jan 1, 1995.
“Vehicles that do not have the belts must have them fitted within three years,” he said.
To a supplementary question by Senator Maijol Mahap on reducing the period for fitting the seat belts from three years to one year, Lajim said the Government had to be flexible so that people would not be burdened by the requirement.
Lajim said for vehicles manufactured before Jan 1, 1995 and Perodua Kancil and Kenari manufactured from mid-1998 to mid-2004, which were exempted from the ruling, owners were encouraged to have rear seat belts fitted as a safety measure.
He said the Road Transport Department had amended the Motor Vehicle Regulations (Seat Belts) 1978 to enforce the seat belt ruling for both front and rear seat passengers. – Bernama
Two killed in Karak crash, 17 including driver, hurt
KUALA LUMPUR: Two passengers were killed and 17 others seriously injured when an express bus heading from Genting Highland towards the city plunged into a 10m-deep ravine along the Karak Highway yesterday.
The identities of the victims, a man said to be a foreigner, and a woman from Seremban, both in their 40s, have yet to be ascertained.
There were 45 passengers on board the bus and most of them were believed to be tourists staying in Genting Highlands. Most of the victims were not carrying travel documents.
In the 6.30pm incident, the driver of the Genting Express bus crashed into a divider at the 25th kilometre of the highway.
It is believed that the 47-year-old driver lost control of the vehicle, and veered left, in heavy rain.
Gombak traffic chief Deputy Supt Mohammad Rafiq Mustafa said those injured were rushed to Selayang Hospital while the two bodies were taken to Kuala Lumpur Hospital.
He said police would question the driver, who was slightly injured, to find out more details of the crash. The incident caused a massive traffic jam for more than four hours.
Sunday, May 25, 2008
JPJ seizes 10 Konsortium buses
IPOH: The Road Transport Department (JPJ) has seized 10 Konsortium Bas Ekspres Semenanjung Sdn Bhd buses since its recent ban.
It also confiscated the travel documents of another bus.
JPJ enforcement chief Salim Parlan said the buses had been found plying roads and highways in Kuala Lumpur, Pahang, Kedah, Malacca and Johor despite a month-long ban on its operations until June 13.
“The most recent bus we seized was in Kuala Lumpur on Thursday,” he told reporters yesterday after a JPJ community programme with the orang asli in Pos Raya, about 30km from here.
“In Terengganu, we only confiscated the documents as the bus was stationary at the terminal.”
The Commercial Vehicle Licensing Board (CVLB) recently banned all buses of the company for ignoring safety measures.
The suspension came into effect on May 14 after an inquiry revealed many of the company’s buses were involved in road accidents.
He said following the end of the suspension period, the CVLB check the company before making its recommendations.
Salim, who is also a CVLB board member, added it was looking into other bus companies before deciding if similar action should be taken against them.
“Because such inquiries are very exhaustive and involves many parties, it might take some time before we know if others will have similar action taken against them,” he added.
He also clarified that although the body of the buses was “Konsortium Bas Ekspres”, it did not mean they were those of Konsortium Bas Ekspres Semenanjung Sdn Bhd because the company and its two sister companies, Super Coach Liner and Stoneway Corporation, operated under the banner name of Konsortium Bas Bhd.
The public, Salim said, could tell to whom the bus belonged to by looking at the name and address printed at the bottom corner of the vehicle.
Sunday, May 18, 2008
One-month ban for ‘bad record’ bus operator
ALOR STAR: All 232 express buses owned by Syarikat Konsortium Bas Ekspres Semenanjung Bhd have been grounded a month for having a “bad track record”.
Road Transport Department (JPJ) enforcement director Salim Parlan said the suspension effective Wednesday would end on June 16.
He said the Commercial Vehicle Licensing Board (CVLB) made the decision after its inquiry revealed that many of the company’s buses were involved in road accidents.
“We will station our enforcement officers at all 36 bus terminals in the country to ensure the suspension order is complied with,” he said on Thursday night.
He said JPJ had detained a bus in Puduraya and two buses in the Medan Gopeng bus terminal in Ipoh after the company was found to have defied the suspension order.
Hundreds of passengers were stranded at Puduraya yesterday when they found that they could not board any of the various Konsortium buses parked at the platforms.
Last August, four passengers were killed after the bus they were in overturned into a ditch on the North-South Expressway.
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Thai girl dies in bus crash
KUALA TERENGGANU: An express bus plunged into a ravine along the Kuala Terengganu-Kota Baru road early yesterday, killing a Thai girl.
According to Bernama, Terengganu deputy police chief Datuk Jalaluddin Abdul Rahman said the other 22 passengers, 15 of them Thai nationals, were injured and had been sent to hospital.
He said the bus was travelling from Rantau Panjang to Kuantan when it crashed into the 12.5m-deep ravine at the 33rd kilometre of the road at 12.58am.
Jalaluddin identified the dead girl as 11-year-old Anna Mail Amin.
The bus driver, Zainal Abidin Mohd Nor, 41, was injured while co-driver, Wahid Samad, 49, was unhurt, he said.
Anna was one of the three passengers pinned underneath the overturned bus, said State Fire and Rescue assistant director (operations) Supt Mohd Nor Yazid Rosli.
She died on the spot but fire and rescue personnel managed to rescue the other two, a man and a woman in their 20s, he added.
Jalaluddin said initial investigation showed that the bus, belonging to Mekar Ekspres Sdn Bhd, was speeding.
“When the bus came to the sharp bend at km33, it went out of control and plunged into the ravine and overturned,” he said while visiting some of the injured passengers at the Sultanah Nur Zahirah Hospital (HSNZ) here.
He said seven passengers were rushed to HSNZ. Anna’s body was also taken there.
Fifteen other passengers and driver Zainal Abidin were taken to the Setiu Hospital, he added.
Jalaluddin said the two drivers were assisting police in the investigation.
He said all the Thai passengers had valid travel documents and they were heading for Kuantan to visit relatives or look for jobs.
Passenger, Mohd Najhan Othman, 28, from Permatang Badak, Kuantan, said he just shut his eyes and said a prayer when the bus hit the barrier railing on the left of the road.
“I was thrown from my seat and found myself underneath other passengers. I managed to get up and found a child caught between one of the seats. I tried to help free the child but failed,” said Mohd Najhan.
Meanwhile, in Putrajaya, SIM LEOI LEOI reports that the committee investigating the bus crash in Seremban in which a soldier died and 29 others were injured will recommend to the Commercial Vehicle Licensing Board to suspend the company’s permit.
Entrepreneur and Cooperative Development Minister Datuk Noh Omar said Konsortium Bas Ekspress Semenanjung had been involved in three other accidents since December last year.
The board is expected to meet soon.
In the April 8 accident, Mohd Arshad Razali was killed when the express bus plunged into a ravine along the North-South Expressway.
The bus had 52 outstanding traffic summonses and its driver then was said to have just obtained his commercial driving licence only a few months ago.
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
Soldier killed, 29 injured in bus plunge
By C.S. NATHAN
Pictures by LOW BOON TAT
SEREMBAN: A soldier was killed and 29 other passengers were injured when an express bus plunged into a ravine along the North-South Expressway near here early yesterday.The deceased has been identified as Mohd Arshad Razali from Johor. Five of the injured are reported to be in serious condition and have been admitted to the Tuanku Ja’afar Hospital here for treatment.
State traffic chief ASP Abd Halil Hamzah said the incident occurred at 3.45am after the driver of the Kuala Lumpur-bound express bus apparently lost control of the vehicle. The bus hit the guardrail before plunging into a ravine next to the expressway.
A pregnant woman, a Singaporean and three Indonesians were among those injured.
The bus driver Mohd Shahrini Mohamad, 23, is said to have just obtained his commercial driving licence several months ago. The bus has 52 outstanding traffic summonses.
Eighteen Fire and Rescue department personnel from the Seremban and Seremban 2 stations freed the passengers from the mangled wreck, said its Rescue Assistant Operations Director, Superintendent Khairul Azuwan Ibrahim.
The bus left the Larkin Bus Station in Johor Baru at 1am and was scheduled to arrive in Kuala Lumpur at 5.30am.
The Singaporean, who declined to be named, said the bus flipped several times before landing on its side.
“The bus was going very fast before it crashed,” he said, adding that he sustained minor injuries on his hands and legs.
Fauzi Astamam, 44, who was travelling with his 18-year-old son Mohd Faizudin Fauzi from Johor Baru, said the bus, which was going fast, started to sway suddenly seconds before the accident.
“When the bus plunged into the ravine, I managed to hold on to the seat in front of me. Those who were asleep were flung from their seats,” he said.
Monday, February 4, 2008
Malaysians, Do NOT Get Us In Trouble WIth Your Comments
We set up a blog in hopes that there would be more public awareness about the seriousness of this issue. We hoped that everyone would understand how scary it would be, especially for students who study in other states when they take the buses home.
However, there are PEOPLE misusing the comments to defame the prime minister and spread political agenda like asking us to go under BERSIH's umbrella or asking DAP to help us. It's all very against the current government.
You few Malaysians don't need us young people to TELL YOU what is right or wrong. Do you seriously think you are in your right state of mind to post seditious comments on this blog? I don't care if it's borderline seditious but use your brain before posting. Four of us will end up in jail thanks to you. Did Nat Tan's case not teach you anything?
This blog is NOT to be used to lobby against the current government. Granted we would like the government to take heed of our plight seeing that the elections are near, perhaps we stand a better chance to be heard. However, it is not YOUR position to dictate who we should cling on to go against the current government.
I've deleted those comments to save us four blog moderators.
This is for Nian Ning, Mohd. Zailani and Boon Eng.
This is not to be used as a political agenda.
Do not get us in trouble.
edited: Apparently, this move did not go down well with a lot of people.
Do understand that we never said that we do not support the existences of oppositions. We have seen how irrational the authorities can be and just grab whoever they see first if they see something "not right" in the cyberworld. A world that they do not understand
By "not right", if you didn't see the kind of comments that was posted up, please do not act like we are merely kids who are apathetic. It wasn't merely a kind "Oh, please ask the opposition for help" but it was things that you don't want to be said about your mother or your father. It was targeted at our ministers. They might not be the best at what they are doing, but this is not the place to burn them at the stake and leave us to handle the mess, should there be any.
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Online petition for Nian Ning
By ONG YEE TING
The Star Online - 4th February 2008
yeeting@thestar.com.my
PENANG: Friends of Lee Nian Ning, a medical student who died in a bus accident on Jan 25, have set up a website to seek signatures for a petition on express bus safety that they will send to the Transport Ministry after Chinese New Year.
There is also an online forum at the website (http:// www.buscrashnomore.blogspot.com) to discuss bus crashes in Malaysia.
Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia law student Teo Lee Ken said the site had already received 17,000 hits and 3,750 e-signatures since it was set up on Jan 28.
He said the website with the theme: ‘If this happened to her, it can happen to you’ targeted students who use public buses.
“We don’t know how much we can change the situation but we know that something needs to be done and someone has to start something,” he told reporters while collecting signatures after the memorial service for Nian Ning at Mahindrama Buddhist Temple yesterday.
Nian Ning, 21, a medical student and Public Services Department scholar at the University of New South Wales in Australia, was killed in an accident when the double-decker express bus she boarded from Penang to Kuala Lumpur crashed near Slim River at 5.55pm on Jan 25.
Universiti Malaya (UM) engineering student Desmond Tan said the idea to set up the website and forum came from a mutual friend who is now studying in Wales.
“He was saddened by her passing and wanted to do something for her although he couldn’t be physically here.
“He then suggested that we start a website that could reach out to all people around the world and create awareness on the importance of bus safety and to draw public attention to together prevent such tragedies,” he said.
Tan said they are now working to get feedback and suggestions from students in local colleges and universities.
“We are really glad that some strangers who came to know us through the website have volunteered to become our representatives in their respective colleges and universities,” he said.
He said they would hand in the petition to the Transport Ministry and the bus company a week after Chinese New Year.
“However, the campaign will continue until we get at least 26,000 signatures.”
Nian Ning’s father Lee Hock Chuan, 50 said she had been looking forward to celebrating Chinese New Year together with the family.
“She had even baked some festive cookies with her mother earlier,” he said.
The Memorial - 3rd February 2008
Please take note:
Friday, February 1, 2008
Haris Ibrahim's(the man behind the "Save The Judiciary" petition) Email
Fortunately, this was his reply.
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Hi Jolene,
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PEOPLE! Haris Ibrahim signed our petition! We are truly humbled that someone whom we have admired for his effort in raising awareness on past issues have stepped up to support us. We will move forward with your continued support. Thank you Haris!
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Pictures That Will Be Remembered
I believe, some may have just browsed through this site without really reading and understanding of what had actually happened. With these pictures, let me touch your feelings and reach your mind so that everyone would unite and show some caring heart in supporting this petition.
It is definitely tragic and horrific. But all we can do now is to make sure this does not happen again. Here are the sorrowful sights from the local newspapers.
The skid of the double-decked bus and off it crashed onto the mid-raillings and tumbled sideways.
One of the victims claimed the bus was "well shaken" before hitting the mid-raillings.Some of them "flew" off the bus upon impact and passed out.
This is what that is left, when the bus was lifted up back again.
A sorrowful sight at Nian Ning's house.How You Can Help Offline
To all the concerned netizens of Malaysia,
We aim to bring this petition to a wider level by urging anyone of you to step up and be a rep in your school/university/workplace.
In this way, we are able to collect more signatures as the days go by.
As a rep, your duty would be to keep hold of the petition form and approach your colleagues for signatures.
Bear in mind that those who sign the petition have not already signed the online petition. We don't want to skew the numbers.
We will send you the petition form as soon as you've emailed us at buscrashnomore@gmail.com.
The list of reps will be listed out on the sidebar so that people of that particular institution/company will be able to approach you to join the petition.
The petition can either be scanned and sent back to us or snail-mailed back to our team leader.
Thank you everyone!
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Letters To The Editor Of The Star
Simply afraid to take the bus
I AM deeply saddened by the death of Lee Nian Ning, the beautiful girl who died alongside two others, in a recent bus crash.
Innocent lives are continuously being lost on our roads.
Lee had a bright future ahead of her and so many people who loved her. She was taken away from all of them in a split second. A wrong bus ticket, wrong seat, wrong day and wrong bus driver – that’s all it took to kill her.
I am shaken by the news because I travel between Kuala Lumpur and Sungai Petani every other weekend and I am very fortunate to still be alive.
Like Lee, I am 21 years old, and I too have the whole world in front of me. I take the bus to go home to visit my family and friends. This was exactly the reason Lee boarded the bus.
In my two-and-a-half years of taking long distance buses, I have accepted that buses can break down, can be switched without warning, and even take nearly a day to reach its destination.
It’s not fair for us to constantly live in fear every time we get on a bus, not knowing if we’ll reach our destination alive.
As students, we are not able to afford plane tickets or drive our own cars, which will be safer and more convenient. Even if some of us own cars, we can’t afford the extra expenses that comes with driving up and down regularly.
Even if budget airlines offer cheap tickets, students and the poor are not able to afford them on a regular basis. With hefty airport taxes the so-called cheap plane ticket still burns a hole in our pockets.
This is the reason we choose to take the bus home or to our place of study.
Because of this accident, my friends and I now have a phobia of taking the bus. I don’t want to live in fear. I have a future, too.
JOLENE LAI PEI SHAN,
Sungai Petani, Kedah./Subang Jaya, Selangor. Reckless bus drivers must be stopped I AM writing to tell everyone about the bus service that I used to travel from Penang to Ipoh recently. I took the 4.45pm bus, plying the Penang-Butterworth-Ipoh route, and we left on schedule. Because of the massive jam on the Penang Bridge and heavy traffic heading into Butterworth, we arrived at the toll station near Juru at 5.55pm. I was prepared to arrive late but the bus driver had other plans. He drove like an incensed, raging maniac. I could actually feel the bus lift at certain times. To top it all off, it was raining. He frequently hit the brakes which caused the bus to jolt. He also stopped for a 10-minute toilet break. We reached the Jelapang toll plaza at 7.20pm. Taking into consideration the toilet break, it means that the bus driver took approximately one hour and fifteen minutes to drive from Juru to Jelapang! I thought express buses are only supposed to drive at 90kph. This bus driver went way above the speed limit. I could not sleep a wink because I kept being jolted awake. I hope the relevant authorities would look into the matter and do something before people get hurt, especially since we have bus drivers who think they are above the law, and since the festive season is around the corner. We also need more buses plying the Penang-Ipoh route. It looks like there are only two companies plying this route, and these companies are playing with people’s lives when their drivers treat the roads like the FI circuit. DISSATISFIED AND FRIGHTENED, Ipoh, Perak.
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What happened to crackdown on buses? I DO not know Lee Nian Ning personally despite coming from the same hometown as her. From the looks of it she had so much ahead of her (“Robbed of bright future” – The Star, Jan 28). Looking at her pictures posted on the Facebook group (on the Internet) in her memory, I am most struck by how the pictures of her smiling in the groups of girls could easily have been pictures of my friends and me. The bus company should be held liable over what happened. How many more accidents like this must we let happen before something is done? I myself am a regular on the North-South Expressway. I am from Penang and study at Universiti Malaya in Kuala Lumpur. With the holidays looming, I can’t wait to go back to be with my family but I now dread having to make the trip back home. Indeed, you can say accidents happen, tragedy happens. But let's not just let it happen when it definitely could have been avoided. How could a bus driver with 13 summonses to his name still be allowed on the road? What happened to the crackdown after all those people died in that other bus accident just last year? Where’s the implementation of all those new policies and rules? Am I supposed to say a prayer and hope for the best each time I board a bus? It is inevitable that I will make one of these Penang-KL trips again. I do not feel so safe now knowing that I may be putting my life in the hands of a bus driver with a string of offences. Please do something to make it safer for every one on the road. RACHEL CHOONG MEI LING,
Petaling Jaya, Selangor.
A Map To Mahindarama Temple
Venue: Mahindarama Buddhist Temple, Kampar Road, Penang
Time : 1000 hrs
Just in case you are not sure where is the temple, here is a map courtesy of Sun Tzu II.
Cops: No warrant of arrest for ‘fatal crash’ bus driver
The Star Online - 29 January 2008
KUALA LUMPUR: The driver of the bus that was involved in a crash which killed three passengers, including medical scholar Lee Nian Ning, near Slim River on Friday was never issued with a warrant of arrest for 13 traffic offences.
“The driver never received the summonses. All the police summonses were issued on the bus.
“We will take action against the bus company which is based in Johor Baru,” Federal traffic chief Senior Asst Comm (II) Datuk Hamza Taib said.
The driver Ruslim Isa, 43, is being warded at Teluk Intan Hospital for a broken right leg.
On Friday, the double-decker bus slammed into a divider near Slim River at 5.55pm, killing Nian Ning and the others.
Nian Ning, who was on her way from Penang to visit friends here, was studying medicine at the University of New South Wales.
In Ipoh, Slim River deputy OCPD Deputy Supt Adzhar Othman said a statement would be taken from Ruslim as soon as he recovers from his injuries.
Penumpang nampak pemandu bas main SMS
Utusan Malaysia Online - Januari 2008
SLIM RIVER 25 Jan. - Pemandu bas dua tingkat yang terbabas dan terbalik hingga tiga penumpangnya maut di Kilometer 384 Lebuh Raya Utara- Selatan dekat Behrang dikatakan bermain khidmat pesanan ringkas (SMS) ketika memandu.
Salah seorang mangsa yang ditemui di Hospital Slim River di sini memberitahu, mereka dapat melihat pemandu bas berkenaan asyik bermain SMS sedangkan pada masa itu bas dipandu laju ketika hujan lebat.
Mangsa yang bekerja sebagai doktor dan enggan dikenali berkata, kecuaian pemandu tersebut amat menakutkan penumpang lain kerana tindakan itu amat berbahaya dan boleh mengundang malapetaka.
Seorang lagi mangsa, Netty Herlina, 33, berkata, bas berkenaan dipandu laju hingga menyebabkan bas itu membuai dan bergoyang-goyang.
''Saya duduk di tingkat atas dan apabila bas itu terbabas saya telah tercampak keluar daripada bas. Selepas itu saya tidak sedar apa-apa hingga di bawa ke hospital," katanya.
Nasha Hairi, 40, pula berkata, ketika bas berkenaan sedang bergoyang, dia melihat pemandu bas tersebut berdiri secara tiba-tiba seolah-olah terkejut dan takutkan sesuatu.
''Selepas itu saya dan penumpang lain jadi ketakutan dan menjerit sekuat hati sejurus sebelum bas berpusing dan terbalik," katanya.
Dalam pada itu, Rosnah Ismail, 37, salah seorang penumpang MPV jenis Honda Oddysey yang merempuh bas tersebut pula memberitahu, bas itu kelihatan berputar sebanyak tiga kali dan memasuki laluan bertentangan sebelum terbalik.
''Memang kami tidak sempat membrek dan mengelak bas tersebut kerana bas itu melintang betul-betul di tengah lebuh raya," katanya yang hanya cedera ringan.
Family mourns loss of beautiful, intelligent go-getter
The Star Online - 28 January 2008
By ANDREA FILMER
PENANG: She had the world at her feet but death robbed medical student Lee Nian Ning of a brilliant future.
The straight As student, former state swimmer and accomplished Girl Guide was on the double-decker express bus from Penang to Kuala Lumpur which crashed near Slim River on Friday.
Nian Ning, 21, a Public Service Department (PSD) scholar at the University of New South Wales in Australia who was on her way to visit friends in Kuala Lumpur, was among three passengers who perished when the driver lost control of the bus and slammed into a divider.
“We learnt that the driver had 13 summonses against him. Why had the company not screened him and realised that he was not competent to drive that bus?
“I wonder why the authorities still allowed such a monster to roam our streets?” asked Nian Ning's distraught father Lee Hock Chuan, 50, a company human resources director.
He also expressed disappointment over the bus company's reaction to the tragedy.
“They know who the victims are and yet, I have yet to receive a single call from them. There is not a single representative from the company here today to pay respects to my eldest daughter,” he said.
The family is contemplating legal action and Lee appealed to witnesses to come forward.
“It won’t bring her back but we just want justice to be done,” he said.
The attractive Nian Ning, who stood 1.72m tall, was a national backwoods cooking champion and had set her sights on becoming a doctor.
She scored straight As in both the UPSR and PMR and obtained 11A1s and one A2 in the SPM exams.
“From a young age, she was so clear about her goal. Even though she had been approached to be a model, the only thing she wanted to be was an orthopaedic surgeon,” said her mother Ong Keep Gim, 48, a teacher.
Friends and family of the young victim paid their respects at her home in Taman Gelugor yesterday.
She was later cremated at the Batu Gantung crematorium.
More than 20 of her closest friends also created a scrapbook with personal messages to their friend.
“She was determined and a perfectionist,” said J.A. Cheng, 20, who was Nian Ning's schoolmate.
“She knew what she wanted in life and achieved her dreams. We will miss her very much.”
Pesan beli kain kafan
myMetro - Januari 2008
Laporan dan foto RUDY SYAREME SHERIFFUDIN
Abang mangsa korban nahas bas ekspres anggap adik bersikap pelik sebelum kemalangan
GEORGETOWN: “Arwah sempat berpesan supaya membeli kain kafan jika terjadi apa-apa padanya, seolah-olah memberi petunjuk dia akan pergi buat selama-lamanya,” kata abang Mohd Zailani Mustapha, 23, yang terkorban dalam kemalangan bas ekpres di kilometer 383.5 Lebuhraya Utara-Selatan di Behrang, petang kelmarin.
Mohd Rosli, 29, berkata pesanan arwah adiknya yang disampaikan kepada melalui seorang rakan arwah menimbulkan tanda tanya mengapa persoalan demikian diucapkan, seolah-olah tahu ajalnya sudah tiba.
Selain itu, katanya, sejak seminggu lalu sikap Mohd Zailani berubah dengan ketara apabila sering memberontak dan marah tanpa mengira tempat.
Katanya, lebih memeranjatkan apabila arwah yang sebelum ini tidak pernah menghubungi bapa, Mustapha Mohamed yang ada di Johor, berbuat demikian untuk bertanya khabar.
“Arwah anak keenam daripada tujuh beradik. Dia rajin dan manja dengan ayah serta abang sulung, Mohd Zaidi dan abang kelima, Mohd Zairuddin serta pernah tinggal di Sungai Nibong.
“Arwah sebenarnya tinggal di Batu Uban bersama saya sejak tiga tahun lalu dan bekerja sebagai kontraktor paip serta menggunakan alamat rumah Mohd Zairudin sebagai alamat surat-menyurat,” katanya ketika ditemui di rumah Mohd Zairudin di Lebuh Nipah 3, Sungai Nibong, di sini, semalam.
Mohd Rosli berkata, sebelum kemalangan berlaku, arwah memintanya membeli tiket bas ekpres pada jam 2 petang selepas enggan menaiki bas pada jam 1 petang dan 1.30 petang kelmarin.
“Disebabkan itu, saya membeli tiket bas untuk perjalanan jam 2 petang. Saya terkilan kerana tidak sempat memohon maaf daripada arwah. Selepas menghantarnya ke terminal bas Sungai Nibong, saya terus pulang ke rumah untuk menyambung kerja,” katanya.
Sementara itu, Mohd Zairudin, 26, berkata malam kelmarin dia tiada di rumah kerana keluar mengambil anak bersama isteri sebelum rakannya memberitahu adiknya terkorban dalam kemalangan jalan raya di Behrang.
Dalam kemalangan kira-kira jam 6 petang kelmarin, selain Mohd Zailani, seorang lagi yang terbunuh dalam kejadian itu ialah Lee Nian Ning, 21, dari Taman Bukit Gelugor, di sini.
Kemalangan berlaku apabila bas yang membawa 37 penumpang serta dua pemandu dalam perjalanan dari Pulau Pinang ke Kuala Lumpur dikatakan dipandu laju sebelum hilang kawalan dan melanggar pembahagi jalan lalu terbalik.
Akibat pelanggaran itu, bas berkenaan memasuki laluan arah selatan sebelum dirempuh kereta Honda Odyssey dari arah belakang.
Seorang lagi penumpang bas ekspres meninggal
Berita Harian Online - January 2008
IPOH: Seorang lagi mangsa kemalangan bas ekspres di Kilometer 383.5 arah selatan Lebuhraya Utara-Selatan dekat Behrang, petang kelmarin, meninggal dunia menjadikan angka korban kepada tiga.
Pang Poon Eng, 20, yang berasal dari Batu Caves, Selangor, meninggal dunia di Unit Rawatan Rapi, Hospital Ipoh, awal pagi semalam.
Mayat mendiang Pang dituntut oleh ahli keluarga petang semalam untuk disemadikan di Selangor.
Sementara itu, Timbalan Ketua Polis Daerah Tanjung Malim, Deputi Superintendan Adzhar Othman, berkata polis masih menyiasat punca kemalangan.
Mengenai dakwaan saksi mengatakan pemandu bas itu, Ruslin Isa, 42, dikatakan sedang menggunakan khidmat pesanan ringkas (SMS) dan memandu laju dalam hujan renyai sebelum kemalangan, beliau enggan membuat sebarang ulasan.
Adzhar juga enggan mengesahkan dakwaan Ruslin turut memilik dua waran tangkap kerana belum menjelaskan sembilan saman trafik kerana kesalahan memandu melebihi had laju.
“Polis masih menyiasat punca kemalangan dan kita akan maklumkan kemudian selepas semua aspek siasatan disiapkan," katanya ketika dihubungi di sini, semalam.
Dalam kemalangan jam 6 petang itu, tiga penumpang terbunuh dan tujuh cedera parah selepas bas Ekspres Konsortium yang mereka naiki melanggar pembahagi jalan dan terbalik.
Selain Pang, mangsa yang terbunuh di tempat kejadian ialah Mohd Zailani Mustafa, 23, dari Sungai Nibong, Bayan Lepas, Pulau Pinang dan Lee Nian Ning, 21, dari Taman Bukit Gelugor, Pulau Pinang.
Bas berkenaan membawa 39 penumpang termasuk pemandu dan pemandu gantian dalam perjalanan dari Pulau Pinang ke Kuala Lumpur.
Bus crash: Driver had 13 outstanding summonses
The Star Online - 26 January 2008
By CLARA CHOOI
IPOH: The driver of a double-decker express bus that saw three of its passengers killed in a crash near Slim River on Friday had 13 outstanding police summonses issued against him.
Records in www.myeg.com.my revealed that Ruslim Isa, 43, who was sent to the Teluk Intan Hospital for a broken right leg after the 5.55pm accident, had seven summonses issued against him for speeding, five for illegal overtaking and one for not using an overhead bridge.
The summonses, amounting to RM2,660, dated as far back as 2000.
The accident occurred at KM382 of the highway between Slim River and Behrang during a downpour.
Slim River deputy OCPD Deputy Supt Adzhar Othman said that blood samples taken from Ruslim would be sent to the Chemistry Department, while the remains of the bus would also be sent to Puspakom for analysis on Monday.
"At this point, we cannot yet ascertain the cause of the accident, whether or not it is due to human or technical error.
"Investigations are still ongoing," he said.
The crash, which had initially killed two passengers - Mohd Zailani Mustafa, 23, of Sungai Nibong, Bayan Lepas, Penang, and Lee Nian Ning, 21, of Taman Gelugor, Penang - claimed its third victim on Saturday.
Pang Poon Eng, 20, from Gombak, Batu Caves in Selangor, died at about 1.30am at the Ipoh Hospital here.
Nine other passengers of the Penang-Kuala Lumpur bound Konsortium bus were warded at the Slim River Hospital and the Ipoh Hospital for critical injuries, whilst the others received outpatient treatment.
The bus, which departed from Penang at 2.20pm on Friday, was carrying 39 people.
Dua maut, 9 parah bas terbalik
Utusan Malaysia Online - 26 Januari 2008
Oleh: AMIZUL TUNIZAR AHMAD TERMIZI
BEHRANG 25 Jan. - Dua terbunuh manakala 27 lagi cedera termasuk sembilan daripadanya parah dalam satu kemalangan ngeri membabitkan sebuah bas dua tingkat dan kenderaan pelbagai guna (MPV) di Kilometer 383 Lebuh Raya Utara-Selatan dekat sini hari ini.
Mangsa yang terbunuh ialah penumpang bas, Mohd. Zailani Mustafa, 23, dan Lee Nian Ning, 21. Kedua-duanya yang berasal dari Pulau Pinang mati di tempat kejadian.
Kejadian itu berlaku kira-kira pukul 5.30 petang sewaktu hujan lebat dengan bas berkenaan dipercayai dipandu laju hingga gagal dikawal dan terbabas.
Difahamkan kebanyakan mangsa yang cedera parah berada di tingkat atas bas tersebut.
Ketua Polis Daerah Slim River, Supritendan Md. Ali Mohd. Nayan berkata, bas berkenaan dikatakan terbabas ke laluan bertentangan dan merempuh sebuah kenderaan MPV yang dinaiki tiga orang.
Selepas rempuhan itu, katanya, bas yang datang dari arah Pulau Pinang ke Kuala Lumpur dengan membawa 21 penumpang termasuk pemandunya terus terseret dan terbalik.
"Semua mangsa terlibat berjaya dikeluarkan dari bas dan MPV dan dibawa ke Hospital Slim River untuk rawatan," katanya ketika ditemui pemberita di tempat kejadian.
Md. Ali berkata, kerja-kerja menyelamat mangsa yang terperangkap hanya selesai kira-kira pukul 9.15 malam.
Seorang penumpang MPV itu, Husnah Ismail, ketika menceritakan detik-detik cemas itu berkata, beliau nampak bas tersebut dipandu laju dari arah hadapan.
Katanya, semasa melalui jalan itu, secara tiba-tiba bas tersebut terbabas dan terbalik lalu berpusing ke laluan mereka.
"Rakan saya yang memandu MPV kemudian cuba brek dan mengelak tetapi gagal lalu merempuh bumbung bas itu," katanya yang menerima beberapa jahitan di kepalanya.
Penumpang bas, Nasha Hairi, 40, pula memberitahu, dia melihat semua penumpang bas dihempap antara satu sama lain.
Katanya, akibat daripada itu, semuanya menjerit ketakutan dan ada antaranya yang tercampak keluar.
Sementara itu, Timbalan Ketua Polis Daerah Slim River, Deputi Supritendan Adzhar Othman memberitahu, pemandu bas tersebut mempunyai tiga waran tangkap dan 19 saman termasuk 12 kesalahan memandu melebihi had laju.
Two die, three injured in bus crash
The Star Online - 26 January 2008
IPOH: Two people died and three were seriously injured after the double-decker express bus they were travelling in lost control before crashing into a divider at southbound of Km382 of the North-South Expressway between Slim River and Behrang.
The two dead were identified as Mohd Zailini Mustafa, 23, and Lee Nian Ning, 21. Both are from Sg Nibong and Taman Bukit Gelugor, Penang, respectively.
The unidentified bus driver in the 5.55pm incident was also seriously injured.
There were 39 people on board including the driver and co-driver. The injured had been sent to the Slim River Hospital for treatment.
Slim River deputy OCPD Deputy Supt Adzhar Othman said initial reports found that the bus, which was travelling from Penang to Kuala Lumpur, had lost control and was lying sideways blocking both sides of the expressway.
“A multi-purpose vehicle, which was travelling behind the bus, could not brake on time causing it to crash onto the bus.
“The driver was however unhurt,” he said when contacted.
DSP Adzhar said the victims were pulled out from the bus by passing motorists.
The incident caused massive traffic jams on both sides of the expressway.
A Projek Lebuhraya Utara Selatan spokesman said southbound of the expressway had to be closed to traffic.
“We had to open a contra flow on the north-bound to allow traffic flow,” he said.
Bukit Gantang carnage - Kong Choy pointing finger of blame at everybody except himself
Lim Kit Siang - 16 August 2007
Transport Minister, Datuk Seri Chan Kong Choy is pointing the finger of blame at everybody for the latest Bukit Gantang road carnage which killed 20 and injured nine except himself — when such horror road fatalities are not supposed to happen after the Kuala Lipis bus crash which claimed 14 lives and injured 26 people 45 months ago.
The Kuala Lipis road carnage happened in the first month of the premiership of Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi on 31st November 2003 and was the cause of a national hue-and-cry starting from the Prime Minister who demanded action by Chan to ensure that such tragedies do not recur.
Since then, there had not only been the road carnage at Km229 of the North-South Expressway near Bukit Gantang on Monday, but also the Nibong Tebal bus crash in July last year which left 11 dead and 35 injured among those on their way to the St. Anne’s Feast in Bukit Mertajam.
During the nation-wide hullabaloo led by the Transport Minister over the Kuala Lipis road carnage 45 months ago, I had warned the Prime Minister that his administration must learn from the expensive lessons of the past as to why the country had failed to end the road carnage on Malaysian roads which had wrought such great emotional and socio-economic havoc in terms of loss of human lives and economic costs to the community for the past 13 years.
I had expressed fears that “the latest bout of high-profile government and public concern about the high traffic accident rate and fatalities would not be another short-lived but quickly-forgotten “wonder” as had happened many times since 1990.
After the gruesome Karak Highway accident in 1990 which killed 17 people, a Cabinet Committee on Road Safety was formed with the specific target of reducing road fatalities by 30 per cent by the year 2000 based on 1989 figures.
However, the Cabinet Committee on Road Safety not only failed to meet its target of reducing road fatalities by 30 per cent by 2000 based on 1989 figures, the number of road fatalities sharply increased year after year and at one stage, reached 67 per cent higher than the 1989 fatalities instead of cutting it down by 30 per cent!
In 1989, the number of road fatalities stood at an all-time high of 3,773. If the Cabinet Committee on Road Safety had been on target, road fatalities would have progressively fallen until it was fully reduced to 30 per cent of the figure, or not more than 2,641 deaths, by 2,000. Instead, road fatalities increased by leaps and bounds in the 13 years since the establishment of the Cabinet Committee on Road Safety to cut down the death fatalities, registering 6,304 fatalities for 1996.
The total number of traffic fatalities since the establishment of the Cabinet Committee on Road Safety to reduce traffic accidents and fatalities in the 13 years from 1990 to 2002 was a most shocking toll of 70,749 human lives, while the number of injured totalled 537,689.
It is clear that among the root causes for the failure of the Cabinet Committee on Road Safety and the ever-worsening road carnage from 1990 to 2002 resulting in 70,000 avoidable deaths, over half a million injured and over RM70 billion economic losses to the country in the past 13 years were the double lack of political will and Ministerial accountability to end the avoidable road carnage on the roads.
There has been no change of this shocking scenario under the premiership of Abdullah — the abysmal double lack of political will and Ministerial accountability to end the avoidable road carnage on the roads.
This is why last year alone, there were 6,400 fatalities and about 300,000 accidents.
Since the Bukit Gantang carnage on Monday, the Transport Minister had been pointing the finger of blame at everybody except himself and the top government officials concerned.
At first, the public were told that the bus driver had two warrants of arrest against him and 13 outstanding summonses and that the bus company didn’t have a permit to ply the Johor Baru-Alor Star route. Then it was reported that the driver had “flouted almost every traffic rule” with checks revealing that the traffic summons issued to him could be more, with at least 39 other summons issued to three vehicles driven by him.
After the Kuala Lipis tragedy of Nov. 30, 2003, the Nibong Tebal and Bukit Gantang road carnages are not supposed to take place, if preventive measures outlined 45 months ago had been taken seriously by all relevant parties concerned, including by the Transport Minister regularly checking on the implementation of these measures.
There is no shortage of solutions to end the road carnage, only shortage of political will and accountability to enforce them.
A public inquiry must be held into the Bukit Gantang road carnage to inquire why the lessons from the Kuala Lipis bus crash which claimed 14 lives 45 months ago had not been learnt and for a public accounting of the authorities and individuals who must bear responsibility.
At present, Chan is pointing finger of blame at everyone except himself and the top public officials responsible for road safety — when everybody knows that he has lost all credibility, authority and legitimacy for this role for his Ministerial failings in the past 45 months.
He has made a shocking announcement of a new ruling after the Bukit Gantang carnage — the grounding of the entire fleet of buses when there is one fatal accident.
Is this a feasible and realistic solution or just a knee-jerk reaction, or worse, a proposal which is so outrageous that there would be another nation-wide uproar which would completely distract public attention from the responsibility and accountability of the Transport Minister and the top government officials for the continuing road carnage?
If one fatal accident and the entire fleet of buses will be grounded, is Chan prepared to also accept that one major road carnage like the Bukit Gantang tragedy and the Transport Minister submits his resignation?
Past bus tragedies
The Star Online - 14 August 2007
July 31, 2006
Twelve pilgrims on the way to St Anne’s Feast were killed when a chartered bus crashed at the 160th kilometre of the North-South Expressway near Nibong Tebal. Thirty-five others were injured.
Dec 1, 2003
Fourteen passengers were killed in an early morning collision involving two buses – a school bus which was converted for commercial use and an express bus – at the 63rd kilometre of the Kuala Lipis-Merapoh trunk road. Twenty-three others were injured.
April 21, 2001
Twelve women and a boy were killed when a bus skidded and crashed into a ditch off the Pengkalan Hulu-Baling road near Baling.
Jan 15, 2001
Nine people were killed and five seriously injured when an express bus and a
trailer lorry collided head-on at the 24th kilometre of the Sarikei-Sibu road during heavy rain.
Dec 22, 1999
A Mutiara express bus caught fire after plunging into a ravine at Kampung Bayu in Paloh, near Gua Musang killing three passengers and injuring eight.
July 16, 1996
A bus, ferrying a group of factory workers and their families on a holiday excursion, plunged into a 120m-deep ravine near the Genting Highlands Resort, killing 17 of them. Six were children.
Foundation cites JPJ officers for alleged negligence
The Star Online - 22 August 2007
KUALA LUMPUR: Favouritism and buses that are not checked for roadworthiness are some reasons for the Social Action Initiative Foundation to act against the Road Transport Department (JPJ).
Its chairman Tan Sri Robert Phang said he would file a report with the Anti-Corruption Agency for alleged malpractices by nine JPJ officers, including deputy director-general Solah Mat Hassan, who was the former enforcement chief.
“I am not saying that they are corrupt. I don’t have any evidence for that.
“But I do have evidence of malpractice. They have not carried out the minimal standard operating procedures which resulted in buses not meeting the requirement for roadworthiness,” Phang said yesterday.
At a press conference on Monday, Phang claimed that JPJ and Puspakom had not been competent enough in carrying out their duties.
Citing the recent Bukit Gantang express bus accident, which claimed 22 lives, Phang said the answer lay with government agencies that regulate public vehicles.
“JPJ has the responsibility to ensure that buses are designed to international safety standards and driven by drivers who are properly trained, while Puspakom’s role is to inspect and certify that the vehicles are fit for the road,” he said.
Phang said police records showed that an average of 17.2 persons die in road accidents every day.
“The question is, who is responsible?” he said.
CVLB cards for express bus drivers
The Star Online - 19 August 2007
KUALA LUMPUR: The Commercial Vehicle Licensing Board (CVLB) will introduce special cards for express bus drivers.
Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said the cards containing their particulars would be displayed in buses to enable passengers to file complaints against errant drivers.
The CVLB reserves the right not to issue passenger service vehicle (PSV) licences to bus drivers against whom many complaints have been lodged, he said yesterday.
Khaled said the move would enable CVLB to trace the background and previous job experience of bus drivers as well as information on bus companies they used to work for.
“When the licence is revoked, then the bus driver concerned would not be allowed to move to another express bus company,” he said.
CVLB director Naimah Ramly said the agency had called Syarikat Kenderaan Bukit Gantang Sdn Bhd for a meeting on Tuesday.
The company operated the express bus that crashed on Aug 13, killing 21 people.
The company, which has 34 buses, has been issued with a notice to suspend operations. – Bernama
JPJ to conduct checks at bus terminals
The Star Online - 25 August 2007
By CHAN LI LEEN
TAIPING: Officers from the Road Transport Department (JPJ) will be stationed at all express bus terminals permanently to check vehicles and drivers before departures.
JPJ enforcement director Salim Parlan said the buses would not be allowed to leave the terminals if they fail to meet safety standards.
"If the drivers and co-drivers are not qualified or fit to make the journey, they too will be grounded,” he said at the Bukit Gantang rest area on the North-South Expressway near here Saturday.
He said the department’s enforcement officers had been stationed at all bus terminals with express bus services since the launching of Ops Bersih on Wednesday.
“Right now, we are operating from makeshift booths at the terminals but soon these will become permanent offices where passengers can also lodge complaints,” he said.
At least four officers would be stationed at the terminals with more during holidays and festive seasons, he said, adding that a meeting would be held on Tuesday with state enforcement chiefs and branch heads to get feedback on their needs and the number of officers required.
On the scope of inspections, Salim said his officers would go through the drivers’ logbooks to make sure that none of them had driven continuously for more than three hours.
“It is also to make sure that the drivers are assisted by co-drivers, have valid driving licences, do not have any outstanding summonses and are free from the influence of drugs,” he added.
As for buses, he said they would be scrutinised for technical failures that could lead to road accidents.
“The department has already asked for more manpower from the Public Services Department,” he said, adding that some 2,600 officers were involved in Ops Bersih.
Since the launch of the joint operation, he said the department has inspected a total of 4,781 vehicles nationwide and taken action against 363 vehicle owners with 790 summonses issued.
He said 26 drivers and passengers of vehicles were found to be under the influence of drugs.
Salim advised the public to report unscrupulous express bus operators who hike up their fares to the department at its 24-hour hotline 03-88866412 or call him directly at 019-2261214.
CVLB backs jail move
The Star Online - 23 August 2007
By SIRA HABIBU
ALOR STAR: Laws should be amended to jail chief executive officers and directors of bus companies that ignore safety rules, Commercial Vehicle Licencing Board (CVLB) chairman Datuk Markiman Kobiran said.
He said yesterday it was high time the bosses in transportation companies were taken to task.
“Revoking the permit alone under the existing law is not good enough. Bus company CEOs and directors who fail to impose safety measures should be liable to jail sentence.
Transport Minister Datuk Seri Chan Kong Choy had said recently that the Cabinet had given the nod to hold CEOs of bus companies accountable for safety standards, hiring and training of drivers and fleet management.
It was reported yesterday that during a recent inquiry into the bus crash that killed 22 people near Taiping last week, a director of the bus company could not produce the drivers’ safety manual that showed drivers’ competence and courses taken.
Markiman said he would propose amendments to the existing CVLB Act to enable prosecution of bus company CEOs and directors.
He also said that there was a need to create a better interactive system among the various agencies for better enforcement.
He said it would be good to have a centralised information system where data is made accessible to all the relevant agencies such as CLVB, the police, Road Transport Department (JPJ) and Puspakom.
Puspakom CEO Datuk Salamat Wahit said all the new policies adopted by the Cabinet relating to bus structure that met the R66 ECE (Economic Commission for Europe) standard, would be implemented immediately.
Five agencies in blitz on errant buses
The Star Online - 23 August 2003
KUALA LUMPUR: Five major agencies have swung into action to bring to book errant bus companies and their drivers throughout Peninsular Malaysia.
Ops Bersih, involving the Road Transport Department (JPJ), police, Commercial Vehicles Licensing Board (CVLB), Puspakom and Immigration Department, saw officials checking on buses and drivers at major stations and along highways yesterday.
The joint campaign will continue until the end of the Hari Raya holidays in October, on the instructions of Transport Minister Datuk Seri Chan Kong Choy, said JPJ director-general Datuk Ahmad Mustapha Abdul Rashid.
Ops Bersih will include:
- Round-the-clock enforcement counters at all major bus stations, manned by the JPJ and traffic police, to check on buses and drivers before they begin their journeys and at the next stop;
- Prohibiting buses from travelling until summonses are paid;
- Further static checks and roadblocks at 15 areas along the highways;
- Urine tests on drivers and co-drivers;
Police, JPJ, CVLB and Puspakom records to be updated with latest data on summonses and warrants of arrest;
Buses must conform to international rigidity standard;
On-the-spot one-month suspension on buses and commercial vehicles which fail Puspakom checks thrice in a row; and,
Prohibiting renewal of licences and permits until all summonses are settled in court.
Quick joint action
Police
Officers from the traffic and narcotics departments will conduct operations with JPJ officers on highways and at bus stations. They will check for unpaid and outstanding summonses and arrest warrants. Urine tests will also be conducted on the drivers.
Immigration Department
Immigration officers will also be involved to check on foreigners posing as Malaysian drivers and illegal immigrants riding on the buses.
Puspakom
Bus manufacturers were informed on Tuesday that they must build buses which adhere to the “R66 Commission of European Countries” construction standards, of which Malaysia is a signatory. Commercial vehicles which fail to undergo checks three times in a row will be blacklisted by the JPJ and CVLB through an online system.
JPJ
Its officers will man roadblocks on the highways to check on bus drivers' licences and vehicle permits. Round-theclock counters will also be set up at bus stations to check the drivers from the moment they begin their journeys until they stop at their destinations.
Commercial Vehicles Licensing Board
This agency will check on the validity of the drivers' Public Service Vehicle licences.
Errant bus operators and drivers targeted
The Star Online - 23 August 2007
By ZULKIFLI ABD RAHMAN
JPJ implements Ops Bersih
PUTRAJAYA: Ops Bersih has been launched to “clean up” errant bus companies and drivers.
Transport Minister Datuk Seri Chan Kong Choy ordered the Road Transport Department (JPJ) yesterday to take immediate steps to ensure that no more lives were lost or people injured in accidents involving buses.
Ops Bersih, which was supposed to start on Monday, was brought forward following the latest bus express accident in Kelantan on Tuesday.
Roadblocks will be set up at 15 locations nationwide until midnight on Aug 30.
The locations are at JPJ enforcement offices in Bukit Bunga (Kelantan); Air Sejuk and Kijal (Terengganu); Paya Rambutan East Coast Highway; Benta and Maran (Pahang); Tenang and Jamaluang (Johor); and other major bus routes like Sanggang (Pahang), the Bukit Gantang and Tapah expressway rest area (Perak); Juru toll plaza (Penang); Sungai Besi toll plaza (Kuala Lumpur); Senawang (Negeri Sembilan); and Yong Peng (Johor).
JPJ director-general Datuk Ahmad Mustapha Abdul Rashid said the message to bus drivers and operators was that the JPJ was serious about the safety of road-users.
He added his officers would continue with the operations to ensure that bus and commercial vehicle drivers adhered to the speed limit, carried valid operating permits and licences, and vehicles were in good condition according to the Motor Vehicle Rules.
On the counters at bus stations, he said officers would check the licences of the first and second drivers of the buses and the roadworthiness of buses, while the police would conduct urine tests.
“There are cases where the bus will have a second-driver at the point of departure, but one of them will alight somewhere into the journey,” he said.
Ahmad Mustapha said bus drivers should not drive more than eight hours within a 24-hour period, cannot drive for four continuous hours or more than 300km within the four-hour period.
He said bus drivers with outstanding arrest warrants for traffic offences would be arrested on the spot, while those whose licences were suspended would have their documents seized.
Agencies like the traffic police will also coordinate their operations on drivers, especially on suspended driving licences and outstanding arrest warrants, he added.
He said bus-manufacturing companies had been issued with a directive on Tuesday to build rigid one-piece bus bodies which adhered to the “R66 Economic Commission of European Countries” standards.
Motorists can check on their Kejara status with the JPJ or check online via www.jpj.gov.my or send an SMS addressed to JPJ new IC number (without hyphen) and send to 32252.
Chan: Refresher courses a must
The Star Online - 14 August 2007
TAIPING: Commercial vehicle drivers must attend mandatory refresher courses annually, Transport Minister Datuk Seri Chan Kong Choy said.
“I want this to be implemented immediately,” he told reporters after visiting survivors of the Super Express bus crash at the hospital here.
Chan said he had informed Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi about the crash earlier in the morning.
“The Prime Minister wants steps to be taken to improve our road safety.”
He said the mandatory refresher course had been discussed previously by the Malaysian Institute of Road Safety (Miros) and other authorities.
“This is of public interest. No more lives should be lost. I want this to be resolved as soon as possible,” he said.
Chan also said that there was a possibility that the crash, which he described as “one of the worst accidents in our nation’s history,” was due to negligence.
The refresher course is to hone the driving skills of commercial vehicle drivers.
When first proposed in 2004, the course was aimed at being a stringent and comprehensive training programme for commercial drivers.
The drivers were to undergo the training every two years. Those who did not attend the course would have their licences revoked.
The Transport Minister also said that Miros would investigate the incident with the assistance of the police, Road Transport Department and other relevant agencies.
He said public transport operators need to abide by road safety rules, which among others, stipulate that a co-driver must replace a driver after four hours of driving.
Chan said the bus was registered in 1987 and was inspected by Puspakom in May. The next inspection was scheduled for November.
On whether there were any plans to ban express buses from operating after midnight, Chan said the matter would also be studied based on the experiences of other countries.
Miros director-general Prof Radin Umar Radin Sohadi said that the investigation would focus on ensuring that results could be put to use so that such accidents did not reoccur.
“We will find out how the company's drivers were selected and trained, and how the buses were maintained.”
Bukit Gantang crash aftermath: Unhappy cabinet orders immediate action, study
The Malaysian Bar
©New Straits Times (Used by permission)
by Hamidah Atan and Ranjeetha Pakiam
PUTRAJAYA: The accident on the North-South Expressway near Bukit Gantang on Monday, which claimed 20 lives and injured nine, was the hot topic of yesterday’s cabinet meeting.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi expressed his concern and said that the government was unhappy such an accident occurred.
The Transport Ministry has been entrusted with the task of holding discussions with agencies involved in the public transport sector so that remedial actions could be taken immediately.
The cabinet also directed the Commercial Vehicle Licensing Board (CVLB) to conduct a thorough study.
The directive issued to the Entrepreneur and Co-operative Development Ministry was to improve the public transport system, said its minister, Datuk Seri Mohd Khaled Nordin.
The study will look into introducing a basic salary for bus drivers.
Khaled refused to go into the details, saying that he would present a working paper to the cabinet once it was ready. He admitted that the public transport sector was facing a host of problems.
"There are bus companies that cannot afford to pay drivers higher salaries. Some find it difficult to get drivers. CVLB has to look into all these and come up with the proposals."
Khaled also said the board would facilitate investigations into the accident being carried out by the Transport Ministry and relevant agencies.
Works Minister Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu said safety rails along highways and roads would be upgraded to withstand the impact of a crash. He ordered the Public Works Department to start installing double guardrails along dangerous stretches on highways and roads.
"The existing guardrails can be easily destroyed when heavy vehicles crash into them.
"The double guardrails will be able to withstand the impact of a crash," he said after launching his ministry’s Merdeka Day celebrations yesterday.
Samy Vellu said he had also ordered the Malaysian Highway Authority to ensure that the rails were made of steel.
He said the cost of the exercise would be borne by the highway concessionaires for the highways, state governments for state roads and the PWD for federal roads.
Bus tragedy was no accident
Malaysiakini - 16 August 2007
Moaz Yusuf Ahmad | Aug 16, 07 5:11pm
I refer to the malaysiakini report Bus crash kills 20, two in critical condition. My condolences and prayers go out to the families of those who were injured or lost their lives as a result of this tragic bus crash along the North-South Expressway near Bukit Gantang.
This was no accident, and while the negligence of the driver may have been a factor in the crash, it was not the only factor. The traffic police, JPJ (Road Transport Department), Plus Bhd, CVLB (Commercial Vehicles Licensing Board), Transport Ministry and the Economic Planning Unit, along with the bus operator and the driver must all share responsibility for this tragedy.
The government agencies failed us when they failed to enforce the laws, rules, and regulations that are designed to keep the public safe. Our trust in these government agencies is hurt with each bus collision, each near-miss and each reckless bus driver.
The private transport companies failed us when they put their profits above their responsibility to the safety of the public. Private transport companies cannot be allowed to put their profits over the safety and security of the Malaysian people.
Private bus operators have shown that they are not committed to service and safety. That is why the government must restructure the public transportation industry, blacklist these dangerous companies and eliminate this unnecessary and dangerous competitive system.
The best way to encourage people to use public transportation is not to maintain artificially low fares. The government should allow higher fares and use tax credits to help those who cannot afford higher fares. It may turn out that bus fares rise as a result of this increased enforcement. However, this is something that we must accept. We cannot put a price on our safety and security.
The Malaysian people are trusting their government to do the right thing. Please, do not shatter this trust.
How many more, how long more should we wait?
The Star Online - 14 August 2007
Posted by: Lye See Leow
I am deeply saddened by the recent bus tragedy. I am angry as well. How could this happen??? Those perished are people's lives!!
I was a very common bus commuter. The bus is one of the most common and cheapest ways of travelling. Not everybody can afford to buy airplane tickets, even if we have a low-budget air company now.
I mentioned "I was" earlier because now I take the flight for fear of safety. Paying a little more so that I can travel with peace of mind. Bus accidents and disasters have long been heard in the news but where and what are the authorities doing about this? How many more lives should be taken away before we can stop such incidents from happening??
We already know that there are buses "FLYING" especially on the North-South Highway. They are flying above 120km/h. They overtake even the speeding cars. And flying even faster at night. There are laws but is anything done to make sure the law is enforced??
Malaysia - we are talking about 25 million people, high-class transportation system, very efficient highway but still, people are being killed in such incidents which can be totally avoided if there's real enforcement of law and some common sense.
Even in normal everyday driving to work, back home, many people drive thinking for themselves, stepping on the accelerator before the traffic light is about to turn yellow ... which to me, is extremely dangerous. Please sacrifice some minutes to wait for your turn, please value other people's lives, please drive not only for yourself but for others too. Please act unselfishly.
- People asked the question 'How many more, how long more should we wait?' Today, 6 months after the tragic bus accident of Bukit Gantang, 3 more precious lives were killed. Again, how many more, how long more should we wait until actions are taken?
Better Bus Travel for all
The Star Online - 15 August 2007
Posted by: jason_kua
What a pity, lives have been lost again when something could have been done. How many families are mourning over lost loved ones yet again. Did the police, RTD or Puspakom drop the ball? Enforcement at best is hodge-podge with even both the police and the RTD at it. Manpower constraints are often cited but when an accident occurs doesn't the country lose manpower too. The recent horrific bus accident will serve wake up call to the authorities to buck up. No one is pointing any fingers but I hope that they realise that they shoulder some of the responsibility not just the bus driver.
In their defence I would like to say, bus drivers are human too. They are being pushed to the limit of their endurance to ply up and down the NSE by their companies. Before the co-driver rule was introduced, the had to go at it solo. It must be clear that passenger's safety and not profit, must always be top priority. Rather let them be late then never arriving at all. I too have sat on the terror ride bus from Melaka before and count myself lucky to still be here to tell the story. For all our sakes let us learn from this tragedy before it strikes again, don't wait until it strikes close to home.
Have adequate breaks for the drivers, make sure they get a proper rest before letting them back on the road again. Have more frequent inspections of the buses and remove buses that have passed their prime to ensure safety. Do a background check on all bus drivers, currently employed and candidates. Make sure our highways are safe and well lit because they too factor in. Make bus travel safe for all.
Who says corruption does not kill?
The Star Online - 17 August 2007
Posted by: ongvalen
After the bus accident, many were quick to point fingers at the bus company bosses. But have you wondered about other possibilities. Perhaps it could be - CORRUPTION, is it possible?
Let's explore a bit. Why is the bus still on the road despite so many summons? Doesn't it require annual checks? OK, even if the company didnot send it to for checking, still it should be proactive and inform the police to be on look out for this bus number. Then during road blocks, the police would then tow the bus away. Instead what did they do? They issue summons like concert tickets. The Govt agencies should visit the company premises and conduct surprise checks on the fleet of buses. There are so many actions they can take, instead of just issuing summons. Is it effective? You can issue up to 3 summons but if there is still no action, then they should take the next level of action.
So, it is possible, right? The only thing is there is no proof because it is often paid in cash or paid indirectly or through the maintenance contractors. Moreover noone wants to appear in court to testify.
So, it is perfectly possible that due to corruption, so many people have died! CORRUPTION KILLS!!! But I am not accusing anyone here, just exploring possibilities. Perhaps there is no corruption...I don't know. What do you think?
A tragedy that should never have occured
The Star Online - 17 August 2007
Posted by: drchris
Act fast to prevent further mishaps
The whole nation was shocked and aghast at the news of Bukit Gantang bus tragedy at the wee hours of August 13 2007.Twenty people were killed in the tragic accident. We are now told that the 37-year old driver of the ill fated bus had numerous summonses and even warrants of arrest for various traffic offenses committed over the last 6 years.
It is very clear that he should have been suspended and taken off the roads long time ago. Why was that not done? It has also been revealed that the bus too was not road worthy. How is that it was still on the roads? How did it pass through the annual inspections that are mandatory? These are some pertinent questions to which we need to find honest answers.
It is easy now to point the finger at the driver who also lost his life in the tragedy. He might have his faults but the enforcement authorities and bus operators too should take their share of the blame and owe the public an explanation and apology. There is no doubt that the complacency and irresponsibility on their part has resulted in the unnecessary loss of 20 lives.
Imagine the immense sorrow and misery that these deaths have inflicted the families of these victims. It is dreadful to imagine that many among them could have been the sole bread winners. How many children would have lost their parents in the mishap? These deaths should never have occurred if only the authorities responsible had acted diligently according the trust placed in them by the people at large.
It is frightening to know that there may be many more such irresponsible drivers and buses plying our highways everyday. They are nothing but potential "death traps" waiting to snap at anytime. The authorities must act fast to take these dangerous "death traps" off our roads before more people lose their lives. The transport ministry must be firm in ensuring that bus operators adhere strictly to all the safety regulations that govern them.
Butterworth
A timely wake-up call
The Star Online - 19 August 2007
By LESLIE LAU
One man shares how a drivers’ rehabilitation course changed his perception of safe driving.
I NEARLY lost my driving licence four years ago. It was during a brief period when the Government strictly enforced the Kejara demerit points system against constant and repeat traffic offenders.
You see, I’d collected more than 20 traffic summonses in that year. Most of them were for speeding. I travelled frequently around the country those days as part of my job as a foreign correspondent here and, well, I liked driving fast.
And if you knew how to handle yourself, getting caught at speed traps was not a problem. A quick chat and a rap on the knuckle later and you’d be on your way.
But one day, I decided to finally have some principles in life. I collected all my summonses and paid them all. After the nice people at the police traffic division gave me a discount, I was still poorer by nearly RM2,000.
But nevertheless, I thought, that was that. I’d paid my fines.
So imagine my shock when I subsequently received a letter from the Transport Ministry. With disbelief, I read that they would be “taking away my licence because I had exceeded the number of Kejara points allowed per driver for each calendar year”.
You can look up for yourself the number of points allocated for each traffic offence, but suffice to say, two speeding tickets within a year result in an immediate suspension of one’s driving licence.
Yes, Malaysia has among the toughest driving laws in the world! So my more than 20 tickets should have resulted in the Government taking away my licence. Forever. It did not.
After a grovelling appeal letter from me, the ministry offered me a lifeline: I’d have to attend a drivers’ rehabilitation course, at my own expense, and the Government would allow me to keep my licence.
I attended the course, which was held over a weekend at a driving school near Banting. There we were: a motley crew of about 20 that included a pregnant housewife, a vegetable seller, some businessmen, a few government clerks, and a journalist.
There were yawns, mutterings of “I don’t know what I’m doing here because I know all these stuff already,” as the instructor taught us the theory of defensive driving on our first day.
But did we? I looked around in disbelief at these fellow mature adult Malaysians, because I saw on many of their faces puzzled looks.
During the many coffee and food breaks, I discovered why many of them were puzzled. They actually joked about how ridiculous defensive driving was to them.
Defensive driving struck many of my course-mates as a joke. The idea that we should anticipate other drivers and, God forbid, pedestrians, was beyond them.
But despite how boring it was, the instructors’ hammering-over-the-head style of driving home the point of safe defensive driving techniques (like looking at the rear view mirror and side mirror once every one or two minutes), began to work.
As we wound up day one of the course, many of us were actually getting it.
You can joke about it, but turning on indicators, for example, is done for a reason; before the course, the rationale for it was lost on most of my course-mates. More than half the class actually confessed to never ever using their indicators.
“If I used my indicators to change lanes, then the other drivers will never give way,” one man said. “I am too lazy to use indicators. If I am slowing down, it should be obvious I am going to turn,” said another.
It is amazing how you look at yourself. In my mind I was a great driver. After all, I could control a performance car at around 200kph on a racetrack. I must be good.
But during the class conversation on the use of indicators, I remembered with private embarrassment an incident a few years ago: I had made a quick left turn without indicating, and immediately heard a low muffled sound coming from the left rear window of my car.
I looked in horror at the sight of a young man still somehow astride his bicycle, holding on to my car after I had sideswiped him. I stopped the car immediately, made sure he was okay, gave him a few bucks, and off I went doing my best to forget the whole thing.
Until our course discussion.
So at the end of day one of motoring camp, it began to sink in for most of us that we were all there for a reason. If we were really the good drivers we thought we were, we would not have been there.
We were bad drivers.
By the second day, some of us even began enjoying ourselves and did something we were initially deadset against doing. We actually learned some good driving habits.
Most of the day was spent taking cars out for evaluation drives.
Like us, our instructors also learned. They learned that most Malaysians liked to steer with just one hand most of the time. They learned that most Malaysians do not bother observing important things like children playing by the side of the road. And, oh yes, they learned that some of us still insisted on speeding.
Later, we all tried our hand at braking tests and high-speed evasion manoeuvres.
At the end of the day, we were given our certificates. We were also told that we were on probation. If I received one traffic ticket within the next 12 months, I would lose my licence.
I cannot say today that I am the best driver in the world. But what I can say is that the Kejara system and the subsequent drivers’ rehab made me a better driver.
By better, I mean mature. I mean that I now rarely speed. Well, I try not to anyway. I am actually afraid of getting caught.
Oh, it is not that I have not received a speeding ticket since. God knows some roads have the strangest speed limits.
I actually think we do not need to amend any of our laws to prevent tragedies such as the bus accident that claimed 20 lives last week. Our existing laws and regulations are more than adequate. We just do not have any enforcement.
Enforcement works. A case in point is the short stretch of road near the National Science Centre leading to Sri Hartamas in Kuala Lumpur. The speed limit there is 80kph. And there are speed traps there about four or five times a month.
Regular users of that road like me always slow our cars down to within the legislated limit, and it gives me great joy to see those who flout the law getting flagged down by the cops. Nowadays, I’d say more than 90% of drivers on that road obey the law – all because of enforcement.
In case you are wondering, the authorities stopped the strict enforcement of the Kejara system soon after I finished my course.
If it were strictly enforced, at least 200,000 drivers, if not more, would have lost their driving licence. Public pressure resulted in the Kejara system being put in cold storage.
Considering how Malaysians drive, I say that it is a pity that all these errant drivers have not been taken off the road.
And it is a pity that the driver of the bus in last week’s accident, with his outstanding summonses, would still be on the road today if he had stayed awake and nothing untoward had happened.
I wonder how many ticking time bombs like him are on Malaysian roads today, just waiting to kill someone?
Leslie Lau is a former journalist with The Star and the Singapore Straits Times. He is now a public relations consultant, and a slower driver.
