Effective enforcement on express bus operators

DAP National Deputy Chairman and MP for Kepong Dr Tan Seng Giaw stresses that the Central Government must improve efficienciy in its monitoring and enforcement on express and tour bus operators to maintain public safety. Lets prevent accidents on expressways.

Dr Tan notices some express buses speeding along expressways, ignoring safety measures of the Department of Occupational Safety and Health.

According to the Occupational Safety and Health Act, 1994, the Department of the same name prepares safety measures. It studies the causes of accidents involving express buses including the long hours of driving and tiredness of the drivers. How does it deal with these causes?

Express bus operators play their part in providing service to tourists. But, some operators are not good in ensuring the safety of their passengers and other road users. We can see that some express buses simply ignore the rules. Smaller vehicles avoid them.

According to the Home Ministry, from 2005 to 2009, there were 12,801 cases of accidents involving express buses, of which there were128 deaths. We shall continue to follow up with the latest figures.

Besides Transport Ministry and Department of Occupational Safety and Health, Tourism Ministry should also be concerned with safety of express bus passengers. Enforcement officers of all related agencies must have integrity.

Dr Tan Seng Giaw