More needed to keep our roads safe
Indeed, the system urgently needs an overhaul to prevent tragedies like the accident that killed 15 Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris students in June from happening again.
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Free Malaysia Today
2 hours ago
- Free Malaysia Today
1,274 notices issued in special operation on seat belts in buses
JPJ director-general Aedy Fadly Ramli said 878 notices were issued to express bus passengers and 107 to tour bus passengers. (Bernama pic) PETALING JAYA : The road transport department (JPJ) has issued 1,274 compound notices under a special operation to ensure the use of seat belts by drivers and passengers of express buses, tour buses and goods vehicles since July 1. JPJ director-general Aedy Fadly Ramli said 1,000 notices were issued to passengers for not wearing seat belts, 262 notices to drivers for the same offence, and 12 notices to express buses that failed to install seat belts, Bernama reported. 'For passengers, 878 notices were issued to express bus passengers, 107 to tour bus passengers, and 15 to passengers or drivers of goods vehicles. 'For drivers, 33 notices were issued to express bus drivers, 24 to tour bus drivers and 205 to goods vehicle drivers,' he said. JPJ is cracking down on buses following the fatal crash that claimed the lives of 15 Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris students last month. The bus was travelling from Jertih, Terengganu, to Tanjung Malim, Perak, along the East-West Highway, when it crashed near Tasik Banding in Gerik. Initial findings revealed that the bus was travelling at twice the permitted speed limit and this was believed to be one of the causes of the accident.
The Sun
11 hours ago
- The Sun
Disguised JPJ officer conducts surprise bus spot check on bus passengers not wearing seat belts
BUCKLE up, bus passengers! The Road Transport Department (JPJ) is cracking down on those who fail to wear seat belts on buses. In a post on Threads, Syafiq Syahan alerted the public about JPJ officers disguised as passengers conducting surprise spot checks to catch offenders. This enforcement follows the mandatory seat belt rule on buses introduced on 1 July, aimed at enhancing passenger safety. The move comes in the wake of a tragic accident on 9 June in Gerik, Perak, which claimed the lives of 15 Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI) students. Syafiq, who was on a bus earlier last morning, shared his experience: 'Just as we were approaching the bus station, a man who appeared to be a passenger suddenly stood up and started checking the ICs of those not wearing seat belts. Luckily, I had mine on, otherwise I'd be RM300 poorer from the fine.' Many netizens welcomed the initiative, emphasising how quick and easy it is to buckle up and how it could save lives. Noraini Sapian noted, 'It takes less than five seconds to clip on your seat belt. Our neighbouring countries have enforced this for years, complete with warning sounds and CCTV monitoring.' Imi Wanis added that countries like the United Kingdom and China have long had similar regulations. One user shared how she wore her seat belt while travelling back to her hometown from Shah Alam, allowing her to relax and doze off peacefully, praising the driver for driving safely throughout the journey. Hafiz Jamaluddin also praised his bus driver for encouraging seat belt use. 'The driver announced to wear seat belts, so we all complied immediately. I initially thought it was a routine roadblock, but it was a spot check on the spot.' While many agree on the importance of seat belt compliance, some also highlight the crucial role of safe driving and proper licensing for bus drivers. Yesterday, JPJ director-general Datuk Aedy Fadly Ramli revealed that 1,108 summonses were issued to passengers, 62 to drivers, and 24 cases involving buses without installed seat belts. 'Overall, we are seeing an increase in compliance, and passengers are beginning to better understand the importance of wearing seat belts,' he said.
Focus Malaysia
a day ago
- Focus Malaysia
Changes for the better are woefully slow in Malaysia
A FORUM titled 'Public Roads Don't Belong to Bicycle Gangs' was held at Pantai Dalam in Kuala Lumpur last Sunday. It was moderated by former health minister Khairy Jamaluddin. The panel included Bukit Aman Traffic Investigations and Enforcement Department deputy director of enforcement Khairul Azhar Ismail, and Road Transport Department (JPJ) assistant director (operations) Mohd Alifarihan Abdullah. Alifarihan disclosed that current regulations only require buses to be equipped with a GPS system, and JPJ is considering making dashboard cameras (dashcams) compulsory in all public transport vehicles. He said, 'The licences and conditions for public vehicles are only GPS and is why having dashcams compulsory is a good idea, for now it's only mandatory to have a GPS.' The proposal was made after a viral video showed an MRT feeder bus driving too close to a group of cyclists riding abreast on a narrow road, sparking a brief confrontation. One of the cyclists involved raised the issue during the forum and Rapid KL has since launched an internal investigation into the incident. More than 10 years ago, I had already proposed that the public be invited to install quality dashcams to record traffic violations and submit evidence to the authorities and be paid based on fines collected, which was explained in 'All eyes on road safety' published on Nov 9, 2015. Since then, I have written many similar published proposals. For example, when promoting e-hailing services for motorcycles to be introduced in Malaysia, I advocated fitting video cameras in front of crash helmets and at the rear of e-hailing bikes to record transgressions of other vehicles. I have also repeatedly suggested that RapidKL buses be fitted with dashcams and rear facing cameras to record thousands of traffic violations daily, including vehicles parked at bus stops and illegally near junctions, stopping at yellow boxes and jumping red lights, especially motorcycles. But neither the authorities nor RapidKL had followed up with my proposals, including the one I made in 2003 when I proposed in a road safety forum and published a full-page in a broadsheet newspaper to appoint many concessionaires to assist in recording traffic offences nationwide. In this new millennium, it would be a big miscalculation for any country to undergo slow changes. For example, Japan rose from the ashes of the Second World War by copying Western products and making them cheaply, and everyone then used to laugh at inferior Japanese products. But they practised Kaizen by continuously making incremental, ongoing improvements in work procedures, processes and products. Long before the end of the last millennium, Japanese products were regarded as high quality at reasonable prices and sought after around the world. China too started manufacturing by churning out inferior products as cheap as possible. But later, they did not go through the slow improvement to reach Japanese standard. With no legacy to protect, they went all in to develop new technologies and reinvent existing products. This was made possible because China produced the largest number and highest percentage of university graduates in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). Our country too could be transformed if our sharp minds are not prevented from getting things done. ‒ July 23, 2025 YS Chan is master trainer for Mesra Malaysia and Travel and Tours Enhancement Course and an Asean Tourism Master Trainer. He is also a tourism and transport business consultant. The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Focus Malaysia. Main image:
