Seven injured after express bus rammed into guardrail

KULAIJAYA: An express bus driver lost control of the vehicle and rammed into the guardrail along the North-South highway, leaving seven passengers with minor injuries and another with suspected broken ribs.

The Kuala Lumpur-bound StarMart Express bus, which left the Larkin Terminal at about 2.30am, got into the accident along KM32 of the highway northbound, just before the Kulai rest area, at about 3.30am with 14 passengers on board.

It is believed that the bus driver, in his 30s had dozed off before losing control of the vehicle.

Kulaijaya OCPD Supt Zulkefly Yahya said seven passengers, including a woman, aged between 20 and 40 years, received outpatient treatment at Kulai Hospital while a man, in his 40s, was warded as he might have broken his ribs.

"The other remaining passengers were unhurt during the incident.

"The bus's left side was badly damaged," he said when contacted here on Saturday.

Supt Zulkefly said that police had taken the statement from the bus driver

"The bus was supposed to leave the terminal at 12.30am but left two hours later due to some delay.

"We are also investigating whether the bus's engine was damaged," he said.

He added that the bus had been brought to Air Bemban police station for further inspection.

He urged anyone with information to contact the police hotline at 07-2212999 or the nearest police station.

Bills to improve public transport and safety tabled

KUALA LUMPUR (April 12, 2010): THE Land Public Transport Commission (LPTC) Bill 2010 and Land Public Transport Bill 2010 were both tabled for first reading by Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Mohd Nazri Abdul Aziz today.

Under the LPTC Bill, the minister may appoint a chairman, chief executive officer, not more than five government representatives and not more than five members who in the opinion of the minister have knowledge and experience and shown capacity and professionalism in land public transport to sit in the commission.

The Bill stipulates that the commission will advise the minister on all matters relating to land public transport in connection with the exercise of its functions under the land public transport laws.

Under the Land Public Transport Bill, the commission may make rules to provide for the safe carriage of passengers, their luggage and goods by land public transport.

Clause 13 of the Bill empowers the minister to prescribe an area congestion pricing charge to be paid by users of roads situated within any designated area.

The appropriate authorities specified under the Road Transport Act 1987 shall be authorised to demand and collect the proceeds of area congestion pricing charge.

After retaining an amounts as prescribed by the minister and being reimbursed its incidental expenses by the authority, the remaining portion of proceeds will be paid to the Land Public Transport Fund.

A person who fails to pay the charge, commits an offence and shall be liable to a fine not exceeding RM2,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or both.

Clause 27 of the Bill empowers the commission to revoke or suspend a land public transport operator's licence if the conditions of the licence has not been complied by the operator; if the issuance of licence was induced by a false representation; in the event of death, incapacity, bankruptcy of the operator, liquidation of the company; if the public service vehicle used is intended to be used for an unlawful purpose.

Clause 154 and 162 allows the commission to hold any inquiries and investigations respectively in response to a written request from a person or on its own initiative.

The commission is also required to publish a reports of its findings in respect of any public inquiry it conducts within 60 days from the conclusion of the inquiry.

As for the investigation, the commission shall prepare a report to the minister and it is up to the minister to decided whether the report should be published for national and public interest.

An appeal tribunal shall be established under clause 177 of the bill to review any decision or direction of the commission under the law.

The minister shall appoint a chairman and at least two members to sit in the tribunal.

Clause 247 of the Bill stipulates that a Land Public Transport Fund to be set up by the commission and the fund shall be expended for the improvement of the land public transport, its services in rural developments or other purposes related to the land public transport as determined by the minister.

Public Land Transport Commission will resolve fragmented jurisdiction woes

KUALA LUMPUR: Transport Minister Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat says the Public Land Transport Commission (Suruhanjaya Pengangkutan Awam Darat)will help resolve the problem of fragmented jurisdiction governing matters of land transport.

On his blog, he said on Thursday, April 15 the commission will see a single point of accountability for policy planning and regulatory oversight.

"This is a step towards resolving the problem of fragmented jurisdiction governing matters of land transport that I have frequently highlighted since I assumed the role as Transport Minister," he said.

Before the commission was set up, he noted there were 13 government agencies and departments having authority on issues relating to land transport.

For instance on the issue of commercial buses, the issuance and revocation of licence to operate as well as powers to determine fares are under the Commercial Vehicles Licensing Board (CVLB), which is under the Prime Minister’s Department.

However, licences to operate tour buses is under the Tourism Ministry. The Road Transport Department (RTD) oversees various aspects of safety and enforcement. Ong said then there are the Department of Environment and local authorities as well.

"It was through the National Key Result Area on Urban Public Transport (NKRA UPT) of which I am the lead minister that we were able to bring the fragmented agencies to work together to improve urban public transport. It was also through NKRA UPT that the idea of SPAD was established," he said.

Ong said the commission does not affect the jurisdiction of the RTD, Road Safety Department and other agencies under the Transport Ministry of Transport.

He said, as the lead minister for NKRA UPT, he would continue to maintain oversight on matters pertaining to urban public transport and ensure close collaboration between his ministry and the commission.