GEORGE TOWN: The Consumers' Association of Penang (CAP) has called on the Transport Ministry to bolster enforcement of tour and express buses following the recent fatal crash on Jalan Genting-Bentong.
The crash on June 29 left two Chinese nationals dead and several others injured after their tour bus landed on its side while travelling downhill.
Police had said that the driver did not have a driving licence and had 27 previous traffic summonses.
Transport Minister Anthony Loke also revealed that the bus had an expired permit and had exceeded the age limit for operation as it was over 15 years old, and the driver had 27 prior summonses.
Since 2022, there have been at least 32 express bus accidents in Malaysia.
CAP president Mohideen Abdul Kader said the Transport Ministry, the police and the Road Transport Department must address the issue immediately, as they undermine passenger confidence.
He said, invoking a seldom-used Road Transport Act provision to fine offending companies up to RM500,000 or imprison them for two years, was insufficient.
"CAP suggests blacklisting company directors from operating transport businesses. The Land Public Transport Agency (APAD) can suspend or cancel licences under section 45 of the Land Public Transport Act 2010.
"CAP also proposes integrating summons and traffic violation data with expiry dates for road tax and licenses. Companies should have basic access to driver's backgrounds to make informed hiring decisions.
"The Road Transport Act 1987 mandates commercial vehicle inspections at Puspakom every six months. CAP recommends issuing stickers indicating inspection status, the next inspection date and a whistleblower hotline. These stickers should be prominently displayed near vehicle doors.
"Bus drivers must know evacuation procedures and emergency exits, as evidenced by a January 2024 express bus fire in Alor Gajah, where a 17-year-old tourist died and seven others were injured due to being unaware of the presence of emergency exits," he said today.
CAP also urged the Transport Ministry to ensure express buses are equipped with mandatory GPS monitoring systems, a requirement since 2008.
"The ministry must act quickly and decisively to restore express and tour bus passengers' confidence, prioritising safety above all," he added.
Mohideen said most accidents occurred at night due to speeding and poor visibility, often causing microsleep.
From 2011 to 2021, 1,305 people died on Malaysian roads due to microsleep.
He reiterated that buses must have a co-driver for journeys over 300km, a legal requirement that is often violated due to the need to split the driver's pay with the co-driver.
He said drivers sometimes made multiple trips with little rest, especially during peak seasons.
He pointed out that ensuring bus drivers received adequate salaries and employment benefits was crucial for several reasons.
"Adequate compensation can reduce the need for drivers to take on multiple continual trips, which can be exhausting and unsafe.
"Without proper rest, drivers' concentration on the road can be severely impaired, leading to dangerous situations such as microsleep which can occur when someone is extremely tired.
"By providing sufficient pay and benefits, bus companies can help ensure their drivers are well-rested and able to maintain high levels of concentration, thereby enhancing overall road safety," he said.