Transport ministry considering proposal to establish Malaysian Transportation Safety Board (MTSB) – Loke

Transport ministry considering proposal to establish Malaysian Transportation Safety Board (MTSB) – Loke

The transport ministry is considering a proposal for establishing the Malaysian Transportation Safety Board (MTSB), a body that is to be tasked with investigating road accidents in the country, reported Bernama.

The proposal comes after recommendations were made by a special task force set up by the transport ministry to investigate the fatal crash involving members of the Federal Reserve Unit (FRU) in Teluk Intan, as well as the bus crash in Gerik that claimed the lives of 15 students.

Meanwhile, the transport ministry would also introduce several initiatives to elevate the status of the driving profession, including training programmes aimed at producing more competent and professional drivers, Loke said.

“We want to work together to train more professional drivers. The ministry has several planned actions to uplift the status of this profession… we want drivers to be respected and [their] social status to be elevated,” the transport minister said.

Transport ministry considering proposal to establish Malaysian Transportation Safety Board (MTSB) – Loke

The ongoing issue of a shortage of bus and lorry drivers due to a lack of interest and low wages was also highlighted, and Loke said that the transport ministry is taking efforts to ensure that drivers are fairly compensated in line with their working hours, workload, and the risks faced by these drivers.

“However, we must not assume that just anyone, even those with criminal records or poor driving histories, can be hired as drivers. We are currently working on a database to identify individuals with past offences, especially those involving dangerous driving, so that they can be filtered out,” Loke said.

Plans for the formation of a similarly named board – of the same acronym – were mooted in 2015, where the ministry of transport looked to establish an overall authority at the time to have all modes of transport in the country under its purview.

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Mick Chan

Open roads and closed circuits hold great allure for Mick Chan. Driving heaven to him is exercising a playful chassis on twisty paths; prizes ergonomics and involvement over gadgetry. Spent three years at a motoring newspaper and short stint with a magazine prior to joining this website.

 

Comments

  • Good initiative. Loke it up !

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  • Frankc on Aug 13, 2025 at 4:01 pm

    MOT should engage with drivers association especially those representing commercial truck drivers. From there for a database of licensed professional driver with driving records. From here training standard under skim kemahiran Malaysia with subsequent certification, on the job probation then professional registration. With drivers association running this effort it will be more relevant than MOT. MOT may sit in together but having the association running it should give the driver urgently to comply.. MOT focus on enforcement of regulations!!

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  • Zuskopi on Aug 13, 2025 at 6:02 pm

    JUST DO IT !

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 0
  • call me by your name on Aug 13, 2025 at 6:49 pm

    what? JPJ is too busy to do this in house?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
  • Rail Rider on Aug 14, 2025 at 8:13 am

    Another useless agency! We already have MIROS. Empower them more la.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
  • opmanmy on Aug 14, 2025 at 8:38 am

    All talk…no enforcement or lack of it. Now this MTSB pulak, siapa bayar gaji…taxpayer’s money! Later also lack or no enforcement…another board again?!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 0
  • Peppa on Aug 15, 2025 at 10:20 pm

    Establish this establish that but no improvement. What an idiot goverment including every single prev gov in the last several years

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