Gerik bus tragedy: Apad issues show-cause letter to operator
The Land Public Transport Agency (Apad) has issued a show-cause letter to the bus operator involved in yesterday's crash at KM53 of the East-West Highway near Tasik Banding, Gerik, which claimed the lives of 15 Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (Upsi) students.
Transport Minister Anthony Loke said at the same time, the Road Transport Department is conducting a Safety Inspection and Audit on the bus and the company involved under the Road Transport Act 1987 (Act 333) and the Land Public Transport Act (Act 715).
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The Star
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Law to hold companies to task needed, says Azalina
PETALING JAYA: There should be more decisive action against those responsible for road accidents that result in loss of life, says Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said (pic). The Law and Institutional Reform Minister said there is a need to reassess the effectiveness of law enforcement. 'Perhaps it is time to evaluate our laws and consider introducing changes to the Penal Code or enacting a new law, akin to the United Kingdom's approach,' she said in a Facebook post yesterday. She was referring to the UK's Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act, which prosecutes companies for safety management failures leading to death. 'This legislation allows for companies to be held accountable for negligence that results in fatalities,' she said. Azalina said the Act was a response to workplace fatalities where corporate entities previously evaded criminal liability. 'This is especially relevant for companies providing transportation services, as it involves human lives,' she added. Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek said the ministry has a standard operating procedure, including on safety checks, concerning the use of buses by student groups. She said the ministry has directed the Kedah Education Department to look into the welfare of a couple, both teachers, who were involved in the accident with the bus in Gerik, Perak. The couple is receiving treatment at Hospital Baling, Kedah. Deputy Works Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan said the road where the accident happened is in good condition and was last maintained on Friday. He dispelled talk about the existence of potholes on that stretch had caused the bus tyre to burst thus leading to the tragedy. 'I would like to state that there was no punctured tyre and there were no potholes on that section,' he told reporters in Tuaran, Sabah, Bernama reported. Ahmad said a check at the location showed that there is a road sign warning of a bend ahead in the area. 'However, whatever happens, we will leave it to the special task force to investigate the accident. We do not want to make accusations, especially about technical issues,' he said. Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye, chairman of the Alliance for a Safe Community, called for an overhaul of safety measures for commercial vehicles. 'It's time to elevate our commitment to road safety and ensure that every journey is as safe as it can be,' he said, highlighting the need for strict compliance with the Industry Code of Practice of the Land Public Transport Agency. He cited the mandatory elements that bus and truck operators must adhere to, which include appointing a safety officer, utilising GPS for monitoring speed and driver behaviour, and establishing robust emergency response plans. Lee also noted the importance of enhancing driver management, vehicle upkeep and journey planning to create a safer transportation environment. 'We must prioritise rigorous training, regular vehicle checks and vigilant route management,' he added.
Daily Express
an hour ago
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Jail for causing death of Sabah courts head
Published on: Wednesday, June 11, 2025 Published on: Wed, Jun 11, 2025 By: Bernama Text Size: Sun, 42, was charged under Section 41(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987, which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years' imprisonment and a fine of up to RM50,000 upon conviction. SIBU: A Chinese national who pleaded guilty to dangerous driving resulting in the death of Sabah State Courts director Marutin Pagan, was Tuesday sentenced to five years' imprisonment and fined RM20,000, in default three months' jail, by the Magistrate's Court here. Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court Judge Rosli Ahmad, to whom the case was previously reassigned, ordered that Sun Xue Song's jail term take effect from the date of his arrest on March 30. Advertisement Sun, 42, was charged under Section 41(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987, which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years' imprisonment and a fine of up to RM50,000 upon conviction. Rosli said the court took into account the accused's plea of guilt, the circumstances of the offence, mitigation presented and the broader public interest. 'I accept the accused's guilty plea and convict him as charged. After considering all circumstances, I sentence him to five years' imprisonment from the date of arrest and a RM20,000 fine, in default three months' imprisonment,' he said. The court also ordered that Sun be disqualified from holding a driving licence for five years from the date of the charge and for his passport to be returned upon completion of his sentence. In mitigation, Sun's counsel Terence Tiong Ing Jie submitted that the accused, an engineering graduate, had lawfully entered Malaysia for employment to support his 70-year-old mother and seven-year-old son. He further noted that the accused had no prior convictions, had fully cooperated with the authorities, voluntarily surrendered himself following the accident and expressed sincere remorse over the victim's death. 'The accused made a bereavement payment of RM70,000 to the deceased's wife, not as an attempt to seek leniency but as a sincere act of compassion,' said Tiong. The court was also informed that the collision occurred along a known accident-prone stretch of Jalan Kanowit-Durin. According to the statement of facts, the incident occurred on March 30 at approximately 1 pm when the accused was driving a Proton X70 along Jalan Kanowit-Durin towards the Kanowit roundabout. At the same time, a Toyota Fortuner driven by Margaretha Jeramy Marutin, with four passengers, including the deceased, Marutin Pagan, was already navigating the roundabout. Sun failed to stop and give way at the designated road markings and dangerously entered the roundabout, resulting in a collision which caused the Fortuner to overturn and land on its side outside the roundabout. Marutin sustained multiple injuries and was rushed to Kanowit Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. A post-mortem confirmed the cause of death as 'head and chest injuries due to a road traffic crash.' Sun initially claimed trial on April 7 before Magistrate Romario Jonoi but changed his plea to guilty during pre-trial case management on May 16. The case was initially handled by Magistrate Oon Kork Chern, who later recused himself due to a personal acquaintance with the deceased. The matter was then reassigned to Judge Rosli Ahmad. Deputy Public Prosecutor Cynthia Emmelda Jerry conducted the prosecution. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
The Star
an hour ago
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Engineer jailed for fatal accident
Sentence passedThe accused being escorted out of the court after receiving his sentence. SIBU: A Chinese national was jailed five years for causing the death of Sabah State Court director Marutin Pagan, 56, in an accident. Sessions Court judge Rosli Ahmad ordered the sentence to take effect from Sun Xue Song's date of arrest on March 30 this year. Sun, 42, had pleaded guilty to the charge on May 16. The judge also imposed a fine of RM20,000 in default of three months' jail and ordered that the accused be disqualified from holding a driving licence for five years. According to the facts of the case, Sun, an engineer, was accused of driving a sport utility vehicle dangerously and causing Marutin's death at the Kanowit roundabout near Sibu at about 1pm on March 30. The deceased was driving a car at that time. The charge, under Section 41(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987, carries a maximum penalty of 10 years' jail and a fine of up to RM50,000, upon conviction. In mitigation, lawyer Terrence Tiong said Sun was a first-time offender with no previous convictions in Malaysia or China. He said the accused voluntarily surrendered to the authorities after the incident and gave his full cooperation during the investigation. 'He showed from the outset a sincere sense of responsibility and expressed deep remorse and sorrow for the loss of life that occurred. 'It was never his intention to cause harm. It was a tragic accident, without any element of recklessness, intoxication or disregard for human life,' he said. Tiong said the accused acknowledged the pain of the deceased's family and took personal steps to assist them. 'Despite his limited financial means, he made a bereavement payment of RM70,000 to the deceased's wife, not in hope of leniency or forgiveness, but purely out of compassion and a sense of moral duty,' he said. Tiong told the court that a custodial sentence would devastate not only the accused but also his dependents, which included his mother, 79, and son, seven, who is still in primary school. The counsel also said the spot of the mishap, Jalan Kanowit-Durin, was a known accident-prone area with multiple traffic incidents. Deputy public prosecutor Cynthia Emmelda Jerry pressed for a deterrent sentence, saying the incident had caused immense emotional trauma to the victim's family. She urged the court to take public interest into consideration in the sentencing. Prison time: Sun being escorted out of the court after receiving his sentence.
