FRU Fatal Crash: Lorry Company Owner To Face Court Action
SHAH ALAM, June 13 (Bernama) -- The owner of the lorry company linked to the fatal crash involving a Federal Reserve Unit (FRU) vehicle on Jalan Chikus-Sungai Lampam in Teluk Intan last month, will be taken to court.
Transport Minister Anthony Loke said that the Road Transport Department (JPJ) will take action against the company.
'Firstly, the operator's licence has been revoked. Secondly, legal action will be taken against the company owner in court through JPJ,' he told reporters at a press conference after officiating the Speed Limitation Device (SLD) for commercial vehicles' implementation, at Scania (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd.
Loke added that the families of the victims could also pursue civil action against the company, to seek damages and compensation.
The tragic accident occurred at 8.54 am on May 13, when a Federal Reserve Unit (FRU) lorry collided with a tipper lorry, which had allegedly veered into the opposite lane. The crash claimed the lives of nine FRU members, and left nine others injured.
In another development, Loke said the decision to return the authority to regulate tourism transport, particularly involving tour buses, to the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC) is subject to Cabinet approval and he has no objection to the move, noting that the matter has been raised over the past two years.
'MOTAC had previously prepared a Cabinet Memorandum (MJM) and submitted it to the Ministry of Transport (MOT) even before the recent incident involving Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI) students,' Loke said.
'I want to stress that this issue is not a response to the tragedy. I've told the Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing that I have no objection to returning the regulatory authority, provided that the safety of sightseeing buses can be guaranteed. I'm more than happy to hand it back, but ultimately, the decision lies with the Cabinet,' he added.
Last Wednesday, MOTAC, in a statement, called for the return of tourism transport regulatory authority to the ministry, following the fatal bus crash in Gerik, Perak, on Monday, which claimed the lives of 15 UPSI students.
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