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New Straits Times

[UPDATED] Tourism ministry wants control over tourism vehicles; cites other countries' lack of confidence

KUALA LUMPUR: The Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry is calling for control over tourism-related vehicles such as buses to be returned to it, citing a loss of confidence in Malaysian road safety among various countries. It said, in a statement, parties involved in tourism and student exchange programmes from Asean, the Middle East, China, Japan and South Korea had expressed their concerns to the ministry. It added that there was a lack of confidence in Malaysia's tourism transport safety assurance mechanisms among these countries following the bus crash in Gerik which saw 15 Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris students killed and many others injured, "The level of concern is such that several international institutions are now reviewing their plans to send students to Malaysia. "Over 500 students are scheduled to arrive in Sabah for exchange programmes between June and August this year. "If we are unable to guarantee their safety, it will not only affect these programmes but could also damage Malaysia's reputation as a regional tourism hub," it said. The ministry no longer has full oversight of the industry, as its regulatory powers under the Tourism Vehicles Licensing Act 1999 were previously transferred to the Land Public Transport Agency (Apad). It retains authority only in Labuan, Sabah and Sarawak. "This regulatory fragmentation has made it difficult to introduce a comprehensive framework that meets international safety standards and protects the welfare of tourists. "We urge that the powers once held by the ministry be fully restored. Tourism transport is not merely about mobility — it is the first touchpoint for visitors and forms a core part of Malaysia's tourism image," said the ministry. It warned that the lack of regulatory control had also hindered the implementation of key safety reforms it had previously proposed. These included limiting driving hours for tour bus drivers to eight hours per day, requiring two drivers for long-distance trips, mandatory rest periods, pre-departure urine screenings, real-time GPS tracking, speed monitoring systems, and compulsory insurance coverage. "Due to the absence of direct regulatory authority, these proposals have not been fully implemented, and the risks to tourists remain," the ministry said. Citing the 2023 Global Tourist Driving Anxiety Index by UK-based Scrap Car Comparison, the ministry said Malaysia was ranked the ninth most "worrying" country for global travellers and second in Asean. This, it said, was not just due to accident statistics but also perceived lax road discipline and traffic enforcement. "This shows that despite our efforts to position Malaysia as a tourist-friendly nation, the actual experience on our roads continues to cause unease and discomfort among international visitors." The ministry stressed that safety was the most fundamental expectation of any traveller, and without a dependable transport system, Malaysia risks losing the confidence of the international market. "The UPSI tragedy is not an isolated case, but a symptom of a systemic failure. "We call on all ministries involved, particularly the Transport Ministry, to take this issue seriously and expedite efforts to return regulatory authority to us. "Only through such reforms can we restore trust in Malaysia's tourism transport system and ensure that all visitors, including academic exchange groups, can enjoy their time here with peace of mind," the statement added.