According to Transport Minister Anthony Roque, the Ministry of Transport is currently reviewing regulations regarding the proposed issuance of accreditation cards for bus drivers. According to the NST, approval for the issuance of these cards was given several months ago and the finalization of the relevant regulations is underway.
“In fact, this issue was raised to us a few months ago and we approved the issuance of bus driver cards subject to some regulations which we are currently fine-tuning,” Roque said.
The accreditation card initiative was proposed by Malaysian National Bus Operators Association president Datuk Mohamad Ashfar Ali. The proposed card aims to hold both bus drivers and operators accountable in case of complaints or accidents. Currently, the Land Transport Department only issues accreditation cards to e-hailing and taxi drivers.
Major crackdown on tourist buses
Minister Loke also spoke about the massive crackdown on tourist buses that was launched following Monday’s fatal accident in Genting Highlands that claimed the lives of two Chinese tourists. To date, a total of 351 inspections have been conducted on tourist buses. The inspections revealed multiple violations, including four cases of unlicensed driving and multiple cases of drug abuse by drivers.
“We inspected 351 tourist buses, four of which were operating without a license. We also took various measures. So far, six drivers have been detained for misusing drugs or failing drugs in urine tests,” Roque said.
Roque stressed that these inspections revealed serious concerns regarding driver’s licenses and drug abuse, underscoring the seriousness of the problem. He assured that the crackdown is not seasonal and will continue on all types of vehicles, including tourist buses, express buses, factory buses and trucks.
The crackdown follows the tragic deaths of two Chinese male tourists at Genting Highlands. The victims, who died at the scene, are believed to have been trapped in their seats at the time of the 10.40am accident.
The Department of Transportation’s efforts to increase bus driver accountability and strengthen ongoing enforcement measures reflect its commitment to improving road safety and addressing key issues in the transportation sector.
