Genting bus crash: Let's not point fingers, says Hisham

 As Transport Minister, Datuk Seri should know that any investigation shall be carried out by SPAD and not JPJ. Please bring SPAD under your wings as well and not leave it with the Prime Minister's Department which might have sidelined the importance of SPAD.

http://www.thestar.com.my/News/Nation/2013/08/22/Lets-not-point-fingers-says-Hisham.aspx






KUALA LUMPUR: All efforts should be focused on saving the victims of the horrific bus crash in Genting Highlands, and not on pointing fingers at anyone, said acting Transport Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein.

He said he did not want innocent parties to be blamed in this highly emotional situation.

“The most important thing now is to identify whether any survivor has been left behind,” he told reporters during the Defence Ministry’s Hari Raya open house here yesterday.

Hishammuddin, who is also the Defence Minister, expressed his condolences to the families of the victims and gave his assurance that the Government would leave no stone unturned in uncovering the cause of the incident.

“I have asked the agencies under the Transport Ministry, including the Road Transport Department, to start investigating the cause of the incident.

“I don’t want to say more than that because efforts are still under way to rescue those who are still trapped,” he said.

Hishammuddin said this was not the first such incident to occur at Genting, adding that there were many factors which could have caused the 2.20pm crash to happen, whether it was the fault of the driver, the vehicle, the road, or a combination of these.

“As long as I am heading the ministry, we will ensure that no innocent party will be made a victim out of something I believe everyone sees as a tragedy,” he said, adding that he was awaiting further reports on the situation.

Meanwhile, Bentong MP Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said bus companies need to be accountable for their drivers’ conduct as negligence could put lives at risk.

According to Liow, the bus was “very wobbly” moments before the accident.

“This could mean that it may not have been in the best condition,” he said after a briefing by rescue personnel at the site.

“I don’t want to speculate. Some say it was the driver’s fault, while some said it was the brakes. Let’s leave it to the investigations.

“But what is clear is that bus companies have not taken past incidences here seriously. They should be making sure their buses are well-maintained and their drivers healthy.”

37 dead in Genting bus crash

Five and a half years have passed since this blog was established, the safety of our public transportation have remained in a sorry state. I still see many express buses speeding on the road, many stage buses which are not road-worthy so on and so forth. Promises were made by ministers, politicians and authorities after each fatal accident but they were never fulfilled.

Folks at Suruhanjaya Pengangkutan Awam Darat (SPAD) have worked tirelessly over the last 3 years and the same folks have presented many brilliant ideas and proposals to SPAD's Member of Commission to transform Malaysia's public transport at the annual strategic meeting. Unfortunately, I have not seen any implementation over the years. What are the Members of Commission for? Did they escalate these ideas to the Prime Minister's Department or do they have other priorities?

http://www.thestar.com.my/News/Nation/2013/08/21/Bus-accident-Genting-Highlands-ravine.aspx

PETALING JAYA: Thirty-seven people were killed in the country's worst road tragedy, after a bus carrying 53 plunged into a 60m ravine near Genting Highlands around 2.45pm Wednesday.

The dead included 24 males and 13 females. Sixteen people were injured in the incident.

The search and rescue operation was called off at 10pm.

According to Fire and Rescue Department deputy director-general Datuk Soiman Jahid, the dead included the driver of the bus.

It is believed that the driver had lost control of the bus, which then rammed a divider before plunging down the gorge.

Some of the passengers were flung from the bus during the incident.

According to the police, more than half the passengers on the bus were foreigners, from China, Bangladesh and Thailand

The bus was also overloaded as its capacity was 44 passengers, authorities said.

The accident occurred at KM36 of the Genting-Kuala Lumpur road, some two kilometres from the Chin Swee Caves Temple, as the bus carrying 53 people was coming down from Genting Highlands and heading towards Kuala Lumpur.

Pahang Sultan Ahmad Shah and Bentong MP Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai were among those who arrived at the scene earlier in the evening and were briefed by authorities.

Earlier, rescuers worked frantically to reach people trapped in the bus. Some 30 policemen and nine ambulances were at the scene.

Traffic in the area was at a standstill as police ensured rescue vehicles could reach the scene of the accident.
Bentong OCPD Supt Mansor Mohd Noor confirmed the incident to The Star but could not give further details.

"I can confirm that there were passengers on the bus but how many there were I don't know yet.
"Authorities are en route to the site now," he said.

Four die in bus-trailer accident near Behrang

PETALING JAYA: Three students and a teacher from SMK Air Merah, Kulim, died after the chartered bus they were travelling in was involved in an accident with a trailer laden with sand at KM382 on the North-South Expressway near Behrang.

The students were on their way from Kulim to Genting Highlands in the 4.45am incident.

Five remain critically injured at the Slim River Hospital. Another 25 were were also injured.

A PLUS official said efforts to extricate the bodies were still ongoing while details of how the accident happened and what caused the bus to overturn remain unclear.

Express bus plunges into drain, 25 hurt

KULAIJAYA: Three people, including a Cambodian tourist, sustained major injuries and 22 others suffered minor cuts when the express bus they were travelling in went out of control and plunged into a drain.

The incident occurred around 4.40am at KM19 along the Ayer Hitam-Johor Baru stretch here Monday.

A passenger said the accident occured a few minutes after the bus had passed the toll station in Kulai, when the vehicle swerved violently, hit a divider and plunged into the drain.

Several passengers, who claimed the bus was speeding, were thrown out of the vehicle.

Johor Baru (North) deputy OCPD Supt Mohd Akhir Ishak said police were questioning the 45-year-old bus driver, adding that all passengers were sent to the Sultanah Aminah Hospital for treatment.

He said only three passengers sustained major injuries and this included the Cambodian tourist, who broke his left leg.

27 killed as tour bus overturns in Cameron Highlands

IPOH: Twenty-seven passengers of a tour bus were killed after the vehicle hit a divider and overturned on its way down from Cameron Highlands Monday.

Twenty-two died at the scene of the accident and five at the Raja Permaisuri hospital here. Another 10 injured, four of whom are men, were being treated at the hospital. Two of the men were said to be in critical condition.

This is believed to be the worst road accident in the nation's history.

Those killed were two Malaysians and 25 Thai nationals. The bus had 37 passengers onboard, 34 of them Thai tourists.

According to Perak state deputy CPO SAC Datuk Zakaria Yusof, the cause of the accident could have been speeding or brake failure.

"The driver was trying to negotiate a sharp bend but failed, causing the vehicle to hit a divider before overturning.

"The bus landed on its roof in a ditch about 51m away from the divider," SAC Zakaria said, adding that the impact killed 22 of the victims on the spot.

The accident occured at KM15 of the Cameron Highlands-Simpang Pulai road at 11.40am. The bus was heading to Kuala Lumpur from Cameron Highlands.

It is learn that the excursion bus company is registered in Jitra.

The impact of the crash was so severe that bodies were flung several metres away from the wreckage while others were trapped deep in the mangled vehicle.

It took about 100 police, Fire and Rescue Department, Civil Defence Department and Public Works Department personnel over three hours to retrieve the bodies.

The wreckage was finally towed downhill at about 4pm, causing massive jams on both sides of the road as far as 5km away.

It is learnt that of the 10 survivors, one was discharged after being treated for minor injuries, three were undergoing surgery and the rest warded, as at 7pm.

Meanwhile, the police have issued the names of 26 of those killed. They are:

1.Omar Shahidan, 48 (male, Malaysian bus driver)
2. Soontorn a/l Kian, 38 (male, Malaysian tour guide of Siamese descent)
3. Charcart Knagsuwan, 48 (male)
4. Thanvaraj Poolsang, 36 (female)
5. Nutthiya Inyyim, 50 (female)
6. Poonporn Poolsaene, 41 (male)
7. Sumruay Swatphet, 48 (male)
8. Putharee Akkrarachaw Wanont, 42 (female)
9. Ponethanest Akkrarachaw Wanont, 45 (male)
10. Suchanchida Chaiaueai, 40 (female)
11. Sriwai Swatphet, 42 (female)
12. Prinya Prassakulchai, 48 (female)
13. Chutima Throukool, 25 (female)
14. Thitisak Pongtanarat, 51 (male)
15. Junpen Pongtanarat, 50 (female)
16. Phayong Kruanjinli, 59 (male)
17. Ekachai Na Bangxang, 64 (male)
18. Mantana Phromduag, 51 (female)
19. Rungnada Klungsawan (female)
20. Darunee Songserm (female)
21. Isariya Thiangtham, 25 (female)
22. Ampaiwan Thiangtham, 50 (female)
23. Maliwan Mekmahaprom, 53 (female)
24. Achara Wiwat, 36 (female)
25. Natkritta Poolsaeng, six, (female)
26. Weera Chuntanagon (male)

Major bus accidents in Malaysia in recent years:

Dec 17: Four prison officers killed after a Prisons Department bus plunged into a ravine along the hilly and winding Tambunan-Kota Kinabalu trunk road.

Oct 29: Seven passengers, aged between 13 and 28, killed after their bus skidded and overtured at KM38 Genting Sempah, while enroute to Kuala Lumpur. It was later revealed the driver of the bus had no valid driving licence.

Oct 10: Thirteen killed in bus crash along KM223 of the North-South Expressway (NSE), near the Simpang Ampat toll plaza.

Dec 25, 2009: Ten killed after a double-decker express bus skidded and hit a road divider at KM272.8 of the NSE, after the Ipoh Selatan toll plaza (northbound).

Dec 7, 2008: Ten dead after an express bus skided and overturned at KM146.5 of the NSE, near Pagoh, Johor.

Aug 13, 2007: One of the worst road crashes in Malaysian history claims 22 lives. The bus they victims were in crashed at KM229 of the NSE, near the Bukit Gantang rest area.

March 9, 2007: Six killed after an express bus plunged into a ravine at KM254, NSE, near the Sg Perak rest and recreation area.

July 30, 2006: Eleven pilgrims to the annual St Anne's Feast in Penang were killed when their chartered bus overturned at KM160.8 of the NSE, near the Jawi interchange at Nibong Tebal.

Nov 23, 2003: Fourteen killed when an express bus collides with another bus at KM63, Jalan Lipis-Merapoh near the Pahang-Kelantan border.

Revoked: Licences of two bus companies involved in two fatal crashes

It took the lives of dozens for them to revoke the licences of these two bus companies.

Why can't they do something to stop these accidents/offences once and for all!

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The Star Online

KUALA LUMPUR: The Commercial Vehicle Licensing Board (CVLB) has revoked the express and chartered bus licences of two companies whose buses were involved in two fatal accidents last month.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Nazri Abdul Aziz said all 11 express bus licences of Syarikat Kuala Lumpur-Malacca Express Sdn Bhd, and all 99 chartered bus licences of Syarikat Taipan Suria (MM2H) Sdn Bhd have been revoked with immediate effect.

Syarikat Taipan Suria’s approval offer letter for chartered bus had also been revoked, he said.

“I strongly warn all commercial vehicle operators against being lackadaisical and irresponsible on the safety of public transport users and road users.

“I won’t hesitate to take strict action such as suspending and revoking licences of errant operators,” he told reporters at Parliament lobby.

Nazri said the action against Syarikat Kuala Lumpur-Malacca Express was taken following the accident in Negri Sembilan on Oct 10 which left 13 people dead.

He said the company had contravened the Motor Vehicle Rules (Commercial Transportation) 1959 and the Commercial Vehicles Licensing Board Act 1987.

Some of the offences included failure to notify the CVLB on changes to the company’s operational address, failure to get CVLB approval on changes to the company’s equity and contravening licence conditions, including the management of company, and those of the vehicle, driver and journeys.

On Syarikat Taipan Suria, Nazri said the action taken on the company was in connection with the accident on Oct 29 on the Karak Highway, where seven people lost their lives.

Nazri said the company also admitted that the bus involved in the crash was operated by a third party.

CVLB director Datin Naimah Ramli said the companies have 30 days to submit their appeals.

Deputy Federal traffic chief ACP Mohd Puad Abd Latiff said the Syarikat Taipan Suria driver was under detention. “He fractured his leg, and we will wait for him to recover from the trauma before taking further action,” he said.

The Syarikat Kuala Lumpur-Malacca Express driver died in the crash.

Karak bus crash: Blacklisted driver had no licence for past 13 years

The Star Online

In Baling, families of the seven victims who were killed claimed that the ill-fated bus was not the one promised by the bus company and was not in good condition.

KUALA LUMPUR: The bus driver involved in Friday’s bus crash that killed seven passengers has held no driving licence for the past 13 years, said Transport Minister Datuk Seri Kong Cho Ha.

In fact, he had held only a learner licence in 1997. After that, he was blacklisted, Kong told Sin Chew Daily on Saturday.

“What makes me angry is that the bus operator had employed a driver without a licence.

“This driver must be charged in court and his employer must take full responsibility,” he said, adding that the ministry had constantly advised public transport companies to ensure all drivers had valid licences, were in good health and a clean driving record.

Kong also ordered the Road Transport Department to investigate the track records of the driver and the bus operator and work with other related authorities to take them to court.

On Friday night the bus skidded and overturned at KM38 Genting Sempah killing seven and injuring 39 others

Selangor Public Order and Traffic Chief Supt Che Husin Omar said Saturday the Road Transport Department (JPJ) had confirmed that the driver did not have a valid driving licence, Bernama reported earlier.

"The driver had initially admitted to police that he had a driving licence but when JPJ conducted a search, it was found that he did not have one," he told Bernama when contacted here Saturday.

Che Husin said the driver, who suffered a broken right leg and was currently receiving treatment at the Kuala Lumpur Hospital, was detained for further investigations.

"He will be investigated under Section 41 of the Road Transport Act 1987, for reckless driving and causing death," he said.

Che Husin said police would be inspecting the black box and also investigating whether the driver had any past record for traffic offences or driving without a licence.

The ill-fated bus, with 44 youths aged between 14 and 25 from several villages in Baling, Kedah, was on an educational trip and had left Kedah at 11pm Thursday and arrived in Genting Highlands at 8am Friday.

At 7pm Friday, the group left Genting Highlands for Kampung Melayu Subang to participate in a homestay programme but was involved in the accident.

During the accident, seven people were killed, 17 seriously injured while 22 others escaped with minor injuries, including the two bus drivers.

Meanwhile, in Baling, families of the seven victims who were killed claimed that the ill-fated bus was not the one promised by the bus company.

Family members, when met in Kampung Baru, Mukim Siong were disappointed with the bus company for failing to keep their promise of providing a bus that was in good condition.

Mustaffa Ibrahim, 60, said the family accepted the destiny of his child, Mohd Fahmi, 17, because it was fated but expressed disappointment after realising that the bus company had provided a bus that was not in good condition.

"They were promised a bus that was good but we only realised that it was not the bus that the company provided for the tour," he said when met in his house here Saturday.

Those who were killed were Mohd Zaidi Mohd Sufian, 28, a religious teacher, Mohammad Amirul Mohamat Isa, 13, Mohamad Khairy Mohamad Marzali, 14, Mohamad Yussof Akhil, 16, Mohamed Firdaus Rosedi, 16, Mohd Fahmi Mustaffa, 17, and Mohd Ridzuan Husin, 17.

Mustaffa, an Imam in a local mosque, said all seven who died were related to each other and urged the authorities to enforce strict measures to ensure such incidents do not recur.

Husin Hamid, 54, the father of Mohd Ridzuan who was also killed, said those responsible for the accident must be dealt with by the authorities.

Meanwhile, Baling Umno division secretary Abdullah Sani Mahmud said the Youth and Sports department would handle matters related to bringing the bodies of the death to Baling.

Seven killed in bus crash

The Star Online

KUALA LUMPUR: Seven people were killed and 39 others injured in a bus accident at Genting Sempah.

The accident, which happened at 7.50pm last night, involved a group from the 4B Youth Movement, Kampung Siong, Kedah, said Selangor traffic chief Supt Che Hussein Omar.

“Seventeen were seriously injured while the remaining 22 suffered minor injuries,” he said.

“Two people were thrown out from the bus.”

He added police were investigating the driver for reckless driving.

The group of 44 had chartered an express bus from Baling for the trip.

It is learnt that the bus driver lost control of the vehicle before it hit the road divider and overturned several times at KM38 of Jalan Genting Sempah, some 300m from the Karak Highway.

At press time, the dead were identified as Muhammad Amirul Mohamad, 13, Muhamad Khairy Muhammad, 16, Mohd Firdaus Rosedi, 16, Mohamad Yussuf Akhif, 16, Mohd Ridzuan Husin, 17 and Mohd Fahmi Mustafa, 17.

The co-ordinator of the trip, Ustaz Mohd Zaidi Mohd Sufian, 28, died on the way to Selayang Hospital.

The driver and co-driver escaped with injuries.

The group was on its way to Kuala Lumpur from Genting Highlands where they had spent the night.

The dead were sent to the Sungai Buloh Hospital.

The injured were brought to the Bentong, Kuala Lumpur (HKL) and Selayang hospitals.

The co-driver said he was asleep when the crash happened.

“When I got up, the bus was rolling,” he added.

Expressing our horror is not good enough

WE have said it before. And we will say it again. For Malaysians to continue with their lackadaisical attitude towards matters of life and death on our roads is to continue to let more people die in vain.

On the evening of Oct 10, a tragic accident occurred on the North-South Expressway at Simpang Ampat near the Negri Sembilan-Malacca border involving an express bus heading north and five other vehicles coming from the opposite direction.

These are the 12 lives lost, eight of whom are under the age of 25, of which five will never celebrate their 21st birthday.

Remember these names: Muhammad Farizuddin Talib, 19; Azizi Ajis, 20; Norazmi Abdul Karim, 24; Sharene Sofia Fadzry Tan, 18; Nur Shapika Baba, 19; Ng Sok Kuan, 52; Pang Shi Moei, 57; Goo Chuan Heng, 34; and the three from Myanmar, Kam Khaw Tuai, 19, Pau Khan Tual, 21, and Cin Thawn Tuang, 21 and R. Ramachandra, 52. Let us not treat them as mere statistics but as real people with families and friends. And let not the tears of their loved ones be for nothing.

The blame game is being played, and there is a familiar refrain to all the comments made so far. So what are we to do? Let us bear in mind that a skeptical public will not be easily convinced because there is a strong negative perception of how serious we are in addressing this issue.

When initial eye-witness accounts claimed the express bus driver was speeding, the immediate response was: “Did the driver have a record? Was he on drugs? Had he been at the wheel for more than eight hours that day?”

That these questions are even being asked reveals that we are all too familiar with the scenario whereby after an accident, we learn to our horror that the driver had a string of summonses to his name and was not fit to even drive his own car, let alone be entrusted with ferrying so many people from one destination to another.

But in this case, the driver apparently had a clean record. And so the cynic in us asks: “Well, it’s just that he had never been caught before!”

To be fair, let us not be drawn into a debate that is premised more on the emotion of the day rather than what the hard facts will reveal after a proper investigation.

But still, we must pose some serious questions for all parties to address and to take remedial action.

To the bus operators: Are your vehicles in tip-top condition? Are all your drivers in good health and mentally prepared to take the long journeys? Are you paying fair wages and offering good working conditions? Do you limit the number of trips your driver can make per day and the number of days he can drive consecutively?

To the enforcement authorities, in particular, the Road Transport Department (JPJ) and Puspakom: Are you checking that all safety requirements are adhered to? Are you ensuring that all the drivers are certified fit to drive and have undergone the necessary tests? Have all the operators undergone the Safety, Health and Environmental Management (SHE) course?

To the licensing authority, the Commercial Vehicle Licensing Board: Are you checking on the records of the operators before renewing their operating permits? Do you ensure that the drivers do not have criminal records or traffic summonses?

To the highway operators: Are there safety issues with regard to the highways you manage? Must killer stretches remain or are there ways to make them safe? What are the conditions of the guardrails that divide the two directions of traffic? What is the quality of your maintenance and upgrading work?

To the lawmakers: Make it mandatory for speed-limiting devices and passenger seat belts to be installed on all express buses. Limit the number of hours a driver can be at the wheel, and for journeys exceeding, say four hours, make it mandatory for a second driver to be on board. Set a minimum wage for the drivers and ensure reasonable working conditions.

Increase the penalties, not only on the drivers, but also on the operators. The onus must be on the operators to maintain a reliable fleet of buses and drivers.

All accidents and infringements must be faithfully tabulated and the operator be stopped from operating when the number of points reaches a certain level. Businesses understand the bottom line so we must have the political will to hit them where it hurts the most.

Read the names again and tell yourself that if the necessary steps are not taken, your loved ones may one day be on such a list.

12 killed in horror crash near NS-Malacca border

Why am I not surprised?

History repeats itself again and again due to inaction on the part of the Transport Ministry/Government. What happened to the Land Transport Commission and the string ideas, regulations and proposals to regulate express buses since the last horror crash?

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SEREMBAN: Twelve people were killed when a north-bound express bus crashed through the guardrail and ploughed into five vehicles heading in the opposition direction at KM223.2 of the North South Expressway near Simpang Ampat here.

Forty-five others were also injured in the 7.45pm accident, which occured near the Negri Sembilan-Malacca border here yesterday.

Witnesses said the express bus crashed into the rear of a car before the driver lost control of his vehicle and rammed through the guardrail and onto the path of an oncoming bus, two cars and a motorcycle.

The impact caused the express bus to flip onto its side. The bus driver and motorcyclist were among the casualties. The oncoming bus belonged to the Welfare Department.

Apparently, out of the 45 injured, four have been rushed to the Kuala Lumpur Hospital for treatment, 22 were sent to a hospital in Seremban and 12 to another hospital in Malacca.

The express bus had left Malacca about 45 minutes before the accident and was on its way to Kuala Lumpur.

The accident caused a traffic jam stretching for more than 25km along the expressway.

Of the 12 who died, eight were believed to be passengers from the express bus.

One of them was decapitated.

Two others were from a MyVi, which was crushed by the bus, and another from a Honda Accord.

PLUS officials had to divert motorists at the Pedas/Linggi toll plaza as the south bound lanes were impassable to traffic.

A Plus traffic control centre spokesman said the accident occurred at about 6km from the Simpang Ampat toll near Alor Gajah, Malacca.

“The middle and left lanes for the south-bound traffic were blocked by the vehicles involved in the accident while the right lane for the north-bound traffic was closed to facilitate emergency works at the scene,” he added.

Sources said that the department’s bus was carrying delegates for a gathering of former servicemen, which was attended by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak at Putra Stadium in Bukit Jalil earlier in the day.

“None of them in this bus was injured,” said Malaysia Ex-Servicemen’s Asso­ciation Datuk Muhammad Abdul Ghani.

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.

Bus operators’ attitude on safety to be blamed for accidents

KUALA LUMPUR: Bus operators have been urged to adhere to the guidelines set by the Transport Ministry to ensure that drivers get adequate rest to prevent fatigue while driving.

Peninsular Malaysia Road Transport Officers Union president Hamzah Masri said the lackadaisical attitude of some bus operators on safety measures was to be blamed for fatal accidents.

He said the causes of bus accidents must be studied comprehensively, including on drivers fatigue and poor management.

The Department of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) must study whether drivers abide by the rules imposed by employing safe driving practices, he said when commenting on an express bus tragedy in Ipoh South recently.

Ten passengers were killed and two injured after a doubledecker Sani Express bus skidded and hit a guard rail at Km272.8 of the NorthSouth Expressway as it was heading north, about 8km from the Ipoh South toll plaza on Dec 26.

"If bus drivers are in good health and drive in a comfortable condition and are not at the wheel continuously for long hours, fatal accidents could be averted," he said.

Hamzah said public transport operators must abide by the rules stipulated in the Occupational Safety and Health Act 1994 to prevent accidents. - Bernama

Lowly-paid and exhausted drivers behind most accidents

PETALING JAYA: They are underpaid, undertrained and overworked. And they lie at the bottom of the pile as far as commercial vehicle drivers are concerned.

While lorry and truck drivers can earn between RM4,000 and RM5,000 a month, non-unionised bus drivers get as little as RM500 in basic salary.

To make ends meet, they have to work overtime, drive more trips and in so doing, forgo their sleep.

This, many say, is the real reason why shocking express bus accidents still occur with horrifying regularity.

Checks with trade organisations and unions revealed that bus drivers are among the lowest paid drivers of commercial vehicles.

The Pan Malaysian Bus Operators Association (PMBOA) and the Transport Workers Union (TWU) say the average pay for a driver with five years’ experience is between RM2,000 and RM3,000 including allowances. Lorry drivers are paid much more.

The lower salary tends to compel drivers to work longer than they should, and some take drugs to stay awake.

TWU secretary-general Datuk Zainal Rampak believes there are about 2,000 non-unionised drivers compared to over 4,000 who work with companies which allow union representation.

“Records show that many accidents involve express buses companies whose drivers are not unionised,” he said.

He pointed out that the employees of Sani Express Sdn Bhd, whose bus slammed into a divider on the North-South Expressway near Ipoh killing 10 passengers on Sunday, were not unionised.

However, this does not mean that Sani Express’ drivers are underpaid.

Zainal said another shortcoming was a lack of training for drivers.

The Government, he said, should seriously check on express bus driver training, experience and physical fitness before allowing them to drive long distance.

“Some drivers who have just received their public service vehicle licence have been told to drive long distances immediately,” he said.

PMBOA president Datuk Ashfar Ali said bus drivers are “being paid well”, and he agrees that there should be training for them.

He said the Government should come into the picture by giving soft loans, such as those provided for unemployed graduates, for training for commercial vehicle driving.

“Driving a bus or lorry is a skill. It is like learning to use a computer,” he said.

He said the industry at the moment makes its new drivers work through a trial period on short-haul routes before “graduating” to long-distance drives.

Commercial Vehicle Licensing Board chairman Datuk Halimah Sadique said bus operators must look into the welfare of their drivers as a way to prevent mishaps.

“You can have a bus with a speed limiter and GPS but if the driver is not good or is inexperienced, it defeats the purpose of such technology,” she said.

“This is about the safety of people,” she said.

Currently, there is no centralised training programme for commercial vehicle drivers except for the Road Transport Department test for them to obtain their public service vehicle or goods driving licences.

An attempt was made in 2005 to make drivers of commercial vehicles undergo compulsory training at a privatised training facility but the proposal met strong objections and was postponed indefinitely.

Double decker bus drivers need additional training

IPOH: The Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (Miros) has urged the Commercial Vehicle Licensing Board (CVLB) to exercise caution when approving permits for double-decker buses.

Its director-general Prof Dr Ahmad Farhan Mohd Sadullah said a more capable driver was needed to drive that kind of bus.

”Double-decker buses have different requirements and only professional drivers should be allowed to handle it,” he told a press conference here Sunday.

Dr Ahmad Farhan, who was here with Road Safety Department director-general Datuk Suret Singh to inspect the ill-fated Sani Express coach, added that drivers handling double-decker buses should be given ample training.

On calls that express bus be barred from travelling at night to curb such incidents, Dr Ahmad Farhan said the institute was against the idea.

”Our research shows that half of the passengers who use express bus services travel at night.”

”If the ban is enforced, passengers would have to use alternative mode of transport like motorcycle,” he said, adding that the institute did not want to take the risk as it encourages the people to use public transport.

The institute’s research also showed that passengers preferred to travel at night as they wanted to optimise their time with their family the next day, said Dr Ahmad Farhan.

”What is more important is express bus companies regulate themselves,” he said.

Suret Singh meanwhile said the department was saddened by CVLB decision not to suspend Sani Express coach’s permit.

”It is not a question of making life difficult for passengers but its to show the Government’s seriousness in tackling the issue,” he said, adding that the people would stop using public transport if it was not assuring.

He also hoped that the incident should be a lesson to all express bus drivers.

”If drivers feel sleepy, they should find a safe place to stop and rest or hand over the vehicle to a co-driver,” he said.

Road Transport Department enforcement director Salim Parlan, who was also present, confirmed that the road tax and the driving license of the express bus driver in question were still valid.

”It was also checked by my officers before it departed from Klang on Friday evening and everything was in order,” he said.

In the 1am Saturday incident, 10 people died after the bus skid and crashed into the divider of the North-South Expressway, 5km away from the Jelapang toll plaza.

Horror before shift change

IPOH: Driver Mohd Kamil Mohd Ra­­shid was feeling sleepy as his bus was leaving the Tapah rest area.

He had planned to have his co-driver take over at the next stop — the Sungai Perak rest area.

They never made it that far.



The double-decker express bus skidded and crashed into a road divi­der, killing 10 passengers less than an hour later, just 5km before the Jelapang toll plaza.

The 38-year-old driver admitted that he had dozed off prior to the ac­cident, said Ipoh traffic chief De­­puty Supt Mohd Rodzi Rajab.

“He had stopped at the Tapah rest area earlier and planned to change duty with his co-driver at the Sungai Perak rest area,” he said.

Supt Mohd Radzi said that Mohd Kamil tested negative for alcohol and drugs.

Co-driver Mohd Syahridzal Abu Hassan, 24, escaped unhurt.

DSP Mohd Rodzi said Mohd Kamil has been remanded until Wednes-day to facilitate investigations.

He said that the bus had no previous speeding summonses.

However, it is learnt that the driver has a past traffic record.

The double-decker bus, owned by the Klang-based Sani Express Sdn Bhd, skidded before hitting a road di­vider at the 272nd kilometre stretch of the the North-South Ex­­press­­way at 1am yesterday.

All the 10 victims were seated on the lower deck of the bus, which departed from Klang at 9pm on Friday for Kangar in Perlis with 48 passengers.

Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir said the Govern­ment should consider ban­­ning night trips by express buses.

“If the move will safeguard the lives of the people, it should be considered,” he said at the Raja Per­mai­suri Bainun Hospital mortuary here yesterday.

Dr Zambry was there to console families of victims in the horrific crash, which also left three injured.

The dead were identified as Shaharin Mohd Noor, 61, and his wife Supiah Adam, 46, of Taman Setia in Klang, Musa @ Ismail Abdul­lah, 64, from Gurun, Mohd Shukri Mohd Ali, 22, of Sungai Besar, Noor Jismi Noordin, 25, from Kangar, Mohd Bilal Osman, 22, from Sungai Besar, siblings Ng Poh Ngoh, 23, and Ng Kah Kit, 14, from Alor Setar, sisters Sharifah Raheel Al-Junid Syed Harun, 21, and Sharifah Hasanah Al Junid Syed Harun, 15, from Sungai Petani.

Sani Express chief executive officer Mejar (R) Haji Abu Bakar Moham­mad said the bus, which had been in service for three months, was well maintained and in good condition.

Initial investigations based on the on-board global positioning system found that the bus was not speeding as it was fitted with a speed-limiter, he said in a statement yesterday.

“We are waiting for investigations to be concluded and we will act ac­­cording to the report,” he said.

He added that his company would fully cooperate with the authorities.

Mejar Abu Bakar also said the company would be allocating some money for the families of each victim.

10 killed, 2 injured in accident in Ipoh

IPOH: Ten passengers died while two were injured, one seriously, after a double-decker Sani Express coach skidded and hit a road divider at KM272.8 North-South Highway heading north eight kilometres from the Ipoh Selatan toll plaza at 1 am.

The 12 people had been seated on the lower deck of the bus, said state traffic police chief Supt Wan Abdullah Ishak said.

The two drivers and 36 other passengers were unhurt, he added.

Wan Abdullah said those killed in the accident were Shaharin Mohd Nor, 61, and Supiah Adam, 46, (believed to Shaharin's wife), both from Taman Setia, Klang, Selangor; Musa alias Ismail Abdullah, 64, from Gurun, Kedah; Mohd Shukri Mohd Ali, 22, of Sungai Besar, Selangor; Noor Jasmi Noordin, 25, from Kangar, Perlis Mohd Bilal Osman, 22, from Sungai Besar, Selangor; Ng Kah Kit, 14, (a boy) and Ng Poh Ngoh, 23, (a woman) from Alor Star, Kedah (their relationship has yet to be established); Sharifah Raheel Al-Junid Syed Harun, 21, from Sungai Petani, Kedah; and a woman believed to be a Malay, who has yet to be identified.-- Bernama

Bus companies to be held accountable for hiring bad drivers

PUTRAJAYA: Public transport companies will be held accountable for hiring drivers with a bad record in a move to stem accidents involving public transport due to “human error.”

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz said the number of accidents involving public transport was worrying and “something drastic and effective needs to be done to at least minimise this.”

“The first thing to do is to compile a list of drivers employed by transport companies and from there, we will check official records for those who have been involved in accidents, been fined numerous times and for other road offences.

“Once the list is ready public transport companies will be advised accordingly.

“We realise the demand for drivers are high and that is why companies are willing to employ even those who have a bad record.

“But employing such drivers will not help. In fact, it can make matters worse as this allows irresponsible drivers to continue to be on the road.

“With the Hari Raya Aidilfitri coming, all eyes will be on public transportation and I shiver with concern everytime I think of the situation because people need to be assured that not only are the vehicles safe, but the drivers are a responsible lot too,” he told reporters after launching the Scania-Plusliner X-treme double decker bus Monday.

Nazri said companies which employ “bad drivers” would be penalised, which would include losing their permits.

He said laws would also be amended so that companies whose drivers got involved in accidents and committed serious traffic offences would be held responsible.

“We need to show to the public that we are serious in protecting their safety on the road. I will ask the Commercial Vehicle Licensing Board (CVLB) to come up with the list soon so that what we have planned for can take effect as soon as possible,” he said.

“As a long term measure, we are looking at the possibility of introducing a driving school for those who wishing to make driving public vehicles their career. Present drivers will also have to undergo refresher courses yearly,” he said.

On another matter, Nazri said he would announce the new ceiling price for public transport on July 16 but declined to elaborate.

“Just wait for the announcement,” he said.

Nazri had earlier said the hike would be “most minimal,” over and above the 30% surcharge which the Government had allowed express bus operators to impose during last year’s Hari Raya.

The surcharge was initially approved by the Government during the one-month Hari Raya period, but express bus operators were allowed to continue charging the increased fare indefinitely after an appeal.

Govt plans GPS devices on buses to curb speeding

THE Government is considering getting bus companies to install Global Positioning System (GPS) devices on buses to keep tabs on speed limit offences by express bus driver.

Transport Minister Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat said that from Aug 18, 2009 the buses must have the equipment before the vehicles are licensed by the Commercial Vehicle Licensing Department.

The GPS mechanism would enable express bus operators to monitor the buses including speed limit offences, Ong told Datuk Johari Abdul (PKR-Sungai Petani) who asked if the ministry had a way to check speeding express buses.

Fatal accidents involving express buses totalled 661 cases from 2000 to last year, while 97 accidents were recorded involving tour buses from 2000 to last year, said Ong.

He said ensuring the safety of passengers should be the onus of the bus companies.

Ong said the Transport Ministry, together with the Department of Occupational Safety and Health have prepared a Safety, Health and Environment code to make express bus companies responsible for the safety of buses and passengers.

Johari continued pursuing the matter by citing a report he had received about a Transnasional express bus which left Sungai Petani at 12.03am and reached Kuala Lumpur at 3.45am.

“Under normal circumstances, the journey from Sungai Petani to Kuala Lumpur cannot be completed within that period (three hours and 45 minutes),” he said, adding that even if an MPV had been driven at 160kph, it would have taken about four-and-a-half hours to reach Kuala Lumpur.

Johari said that many lives could be saved if the speed of the express buses could be monitored.

In reply, Ong said: “It is not an issue of whether to install mechanisms. What is more important is the way things are monitored and handled.”