Just three days after a tour bus that crashed near Genting Highlands resulted in two deaths, the Road Transport Department (JPJ) has initiated a “major” crackdown on tour bus and van operators today, following an announcement transport minister Anthony Loke made yesterday.
The operation appears to have been extremely effective, as The Star reported that within the first hour of the crackdown, JPJ enforcement officers already seized two buses temporarily, after their drivers were caught without driving licences. Today’s joint operation, which involved some 70 JPJ, police, National Anti-Drug Agency (AADK) and tourism ministry officers, lasted from 6am to noon.
“The bus companies were contacted and told to send replacement drivers before they were allowed to leave at about 9.30am,” said JPJ senior enforcement director (legal division) Muhammad Kifli Ma Hassan, adding that the agency will issue summonses to the companies that operate the said buses.
Muhammad Kifli also said another tour bus driver was detained after failing a drug test, while tests for drivers of another 16 tour buses and five express buses came back negative. Johor JPJ officers also temporarily detained a tour bus entering Malaysia after it was found that its Singaporean driver did not possess a licence.
This comes after a tour bus carrying 21 people flipped on its side while descending Genting Highlands, killing two Chinese tourists. An initial investigation found that the permit for the bus, which was 15 years old, had lapsed on February 16 and the driver was also driving without a licence and had 27 past traffic summonses for various offences.
Loke said he had instructed the land public transport agency (APAD) to take stringent action against the operator of the tour bus, including suspension and revocation of its operating licence, if it is found to have violated regulations.
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Still the same attitude. After one deadly bus accident, the authorities will start to hunt down other bus operators. Suddenly the authorities are so hardworking. After 2 months, back to their normal couldn’t be bothered attitude. This kind of attitude has to stop. Enforcement has to be done on regular basis and not after any major disaster just for show. Nothing change despite changes in government for the past 60 years.
What on earth are the authorities doing..27 samans on the unlicenced driver,and he is easily hired to ‘KILL’ with his erratic behaviour?After the 3rd saman,the bastard should be locked up.
Now only ahlokekor invoke the heaviest punishment on the tour company and driver.
Ahlokekor n Co,what if the 2 killed were your niece and nephew? Go to parliament and cry and lobby for more laws?
Why always wait for casualties happened only move your lazy bums? What those penguatkuasa doing before this? Mengeteh? Mengular? Ini semua wayang. Maresyans mudah lupa
The companies don’t even bother to check their drivers license. All they know is asking for subsidies. WTH
The Tour operators should be responsible for engaging drivers without license, malaysia laws are too lenient to the company, maybe this company have strong backings.
If the company is not punished this things will eventually come back when the authority stops the crackdown.
Same knee jerk hangat hangat tahi ayam reaction. Same thing in happened in Genting in 2013, 2018 etc.
No one is taking matter seriously . Drivers with no license , expired operator license, 27 previous driving offences . Gosh ..
stop the tidak apa and kawtim culture and maybe things will improve .
Genting is like the wild wild west where all traffic law is for reference only.
Authorities: People die = oh sh*it need to get back to work
Biasa la.. Reactive ma
When nothing happen, no need check. Hangat hangat few weeks only la.
Later pattern sama. Chillax.
Never improve for at least 30 years ago. History repeat and repeat
First of all in malaysia the jpj or other dept only conduct surveillance once issue occurs. No preventive measures and bribery is at large.
Action only after incident. So everything have to viral or after accident only will see enforcement?
Throw the book at the transportation company also.