Latest news with #HasbiHabibollah
New Straits Times
2 days ago
- New Straits Times
Tourism, Transport ministries in talks over which should regulate tour vehicles
KUALA LUMPUR: The Transport Ministry is discussing with the Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry the possibility of allowing the latter to regulate tour vehicles, including buses. Deputy Transport Minister Datuk Hasbi Habibollah said discussions were still at a preliminary stage and involved multiple ministries due to the complexities surrounding vehicle regulation. "That matter is still at the discussion stage between ministries, as there are still many aspects that need to be looked into. "Regulating tour buses, as you can imagine, involves a lot of procedures such as testing and so on, which require thorough discussion," he said briefly when met after attending Keretapi Tanah Melayu Bhd's Jelajah Ria 2.0 Programme. Yesterday, the Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry had called 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 had said in a statement that 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 had said 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. "We will continue to monitor those with prior offences who remain defiant. We don't sweep such matters under the carpet," said Hasbi.
The Sun
21-05-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Ground Team Red Sdn Bhd launches private jet handling service
LANGKAWI: Ground Team Red Sdn Bhd (GTR), a ground services handler in Malaysia, has launched its private jet handling service at the ongoing Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition 2025 (Lima 2025). The premium service marks GTR's strategic expansion into the VIP and business aviation segment, enhancing its comprehensive portfolio of aviation ground handling services. GTR signed a memorandum of understanding with two strategic partners – Weststar Aviation Services and Sapura Aero Handlers. The signing ceremony was witnessed by Deputy Transport Minister Hasbi Habibollah. The agreements designate GTR as the official ground handler for non-scheduled flights, with a focus on private jets and military aircraft. GTR CEO Musdalifa Abdullah highlighted the launch as a significant step in GTR's growth trajectory. 'This MoU marks an important milestone as we expand into the non-scheduled flight segment, supporting the unique demands of private and military aviation. We are honoured to be the ground handling partner of choice for Weststar, SkyPark and Sapura Aero and look forward to elevating the standard of handling in Malaysia,' he said. GTR's new private jet handling service will leverage the company's extensive operational expertise and nationwide presence to deliver premium ground handling services tailored to the exacting requirements of private and military aviation. The service will initially be available at key airports across Malaysia, with plans for expansion in line with market demand. GTR said the launch during Lima 2025 underscores the strategic importance of this service expansion. As the nation continues to develop its aviation infrastructure and capabilities, GTR's entry into specialised handling services aligns with national objectives to enhance Malaysia's position as a regional aviation hub.
The Sun
19-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Sun
Driver-screening ‘smart' vehicles to boost road safety
KUALA LUMPUR: Vehicles that will not start if drivers are drowsy, unwell or impaired may soon become a reality, as Transport Deputy Minister Datuk Hasbi Habibollah calls for bold, tech-driven solutions to address road safety in Malaysia. Speaking at the MOVE Symposium at Automechanika KL 2025, Hasbi said future road safety may rely on cars that assess a driver's fitness before unlocking the ignition system – much like a health-monitoring failsafe – to keep unfit drivers off the road. 'We're no longer just talking about how you drive, but whether you're fit to drive at all. Why not? It's simple technology. 'If a system can detect that you're unfit, whether due to low blood sugar or fatigue, it should be able to prevent you from starting the vehicle,' he suggested. Highlighting Malaysia's road safety concerns, Hasbi emphasised the importance of digital innovation in reducing fatalities and risky behaviour among motorists. He pointed to fatigue training, AI-powered microsleep detection, digital fleet monitoring and the new voluntary 'Track Score' rating for dashcam and telematics providers as tools that could help mitigate human error, enhance vehicle safety and improve infrastructure. He added that technologies such as dashcams, advanced driver-assistance systems and telematics are empowering both enforcement agencies and road users to act more responsibly. 'We're laying the groundwork for the future rollout of an in-vehicle monitoring system. With the right safeguards, data from these systems can not only monitor behaviour but also help prevent crashes before they happen.' Reaffirming the ministry's commitment to road safety, Hasbi urged the automotive industry to prioritise five-star-rated vehicles and adopt cutting-edge technologies, particularly in sandboxed testing zones that support micro-mobility solutions. At the event, Hasbi also witnessed the signing of a memorandum of agreement between the Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research and Alpha International Training and Consultancy to jointly develop road safety training programmes. Alpha International chief executive Prof Dr Louis Adaikalam, who also leads the Malaysia Sleep Apnea Association, said sleep-related health issues have reached alarming levels in the country. He cited a global analytics study showing nine in 10 Malaysians experience medical problems linked to poor sleep. He added that Malaysians juggling multiple jobs are particularly vulnerable to chronic sleep deprivation, putting them at risk of microsleep, a danger he described as comparable to driving under the influence. 'Over one billion people globally suffer from sleep-related issues. In fact, the US has declared it a public health epidemic.' Citing police statistics as of May 13, Louis said Malaysia recorded 134,206 road crashes and 1,050 fatalities. Fatigue and microsleep were identified by police as major contributors. He explained that fatigue is not only caused by overwork but could also stem from conditions such as sleep apnea, diabetes or unhealthy lifestyles. 'Many Malaysians are unaware they have sleep disorders. A US study found individuals with sleep apnea are 123% more likely to be involved in road crashes. Even reducing sleep from eight to six hours raises crash risk by 33%.' Louis and his team have launched a world-first initiative – the Sleep and Fatigue Recovery and Management Programme – endorsed by the United Nations. The two-day programme, developed with support from the Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research, Human Resource Development Corporation and the Malaysia Productivity Corporation, includes medical sleep assessments, stress evaluations and aritificial intelligence (AI)-based microsleep detection. 'Through AI and wearable medical devices, we can now predict health risks linked to poor sleep. For instance, if you're consistently sleeping only four hours a night, you could develop hypertension in six months, diabetes in two years and potentially be involved in a microsleep-induced crash.' He stressed that while in-vehicle drowsiness detection systems are useful, public education on sleep health must remain the top priority. 'I urge employers to introduce sleep health programmes for their workers. These initiatives not only support employee well-being but also qualify under sustainability and productivity frameworks.'
