Latest news with #KenariUtara
Free Malaysia Today
15 hours ago
- Free Malaysia Today
Permit for bus operator in Gerik crash revoked, says Loke
Fifteen UPSI students died in the bus crash on the Gerik-Jeli East West Highway, near Tasik Banding, on June 9. (Bernama pic) KUALA LUMPUR : The transport ministry has revoked the permit for the bus operator involved in the crash in Gerik, Perak, that killed 15 students from Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI). Transport minister Loke Siew Fook said a preliminary investigation found that the operator had breached several key conditions, including illegally leasing its permit to a third party, and failing to activate the vehicle's GPS tracking system. 'I have instructed the Land Public Transport Agency (Apad) to revoke the operator's permit immediately once the show-cause period ends,' he told a press conference after a Cabinet meeting today. 'All operating licences issued to the company, including for other buses under its fleet, will also be cancelled. 'Although the company has the right to appeal, the ministry will not consider any appeals in this case.' According to Loke, the bus operator had leased its permit to a third party in Kelantan for RM500 a month. 'When asked to produce GPS data, they couldn't provide it because the tracking system had not been activated. This is a clear violation of the permit conditions,' he said. The bus operator, Kenari Utara, previously claimed the vehicle had undergone maintenance last month. The bus driver, who was on loan from another company, was said to be experienced and familiar with the Gerik-Jeli route. On a claim that the driver told authorities the brakes had failed before the crash, Loke said a detailed investigation would be carried out. 'That's just his statement. We will conduct a full forensic analysis to determine whether the claim is accurate. 'However, based on dashcam footage from other road users, it's clear that the bus was speeding and overtaking before it lost control and crashed,' he said. Loke also announced that the ministry will develop a centralised database of bus drivers through Apad to address driver negligence more comprehensively. 'Any driver with a prior record can be blacklisted through this system,' he said, adding that it would serve as a key reference for companies looking to hire drivers.
CNA
19 hours ago
- Automotive
- CNA
Malaysia plans database to weed out errant bus drivers, revokes licence of firm involved in fatal Perak crash
PUTRAJAYA: Malaysia will build a database of bus drivers to weed out errant ones, Transport Minister Anthony Loke said on Wednesday (Jun 11) as he announced the authorities would revoke the permit and licence of the bus operator involved in Monday's Perak crash that killed 15 university students. His comments came a day after another accident in Pahang involving a bus ferrying university students, though no injuries were reported. The database of all bus drivers providing public transportation will enable individuals with 'previous records' to be blacklisted, Loke said at a media briefing. This will help bus operators avoid hiring errant drivers who might have been sacked from another company for poor driving, Loke said. 'Because now in our system, we don't have a database that consolidates all these drivers; we only have licensing (information),' the minister said. 'So in this system, errant drivers that did not drive responsibly could have been fired from company A, they could go to company B." Giving an update on the Perak crash, Loke said the bus company involved, Kenari Utara Travel & Tours Sdn Bhd, did not operate the bus that had crashed into the back of a Perodua Alza multi-purpose vehicle. It had instead leased the vehicle to a third party from Kelantan for RM500 (US$118) a month, which 'goes against the rules of vehicle permits'. The global positioning system (GPS) of the bus was also not activated, resulting in GPS records not being able to be handed over for investigations, the minister said. 'These are two major conditions that (the company has) broken, and I have instructed (the Land Public Transport Commission) to revoke this company's permit immediately after the period of the show-cause letter ends,' he said, adding that the company holds a tourist bus permit. 'They have other buses, and we will revoke all their permits and operator's licence immediately without any avenue for appeal … this shows a carelessness that cannot be forgiven.' As for the bus driver's claims that the vehicle's brakes were not working, Loke said the authorities would do a 'more detailed forensic investigation to determine if that is true or not'. The privately chartered bus was carrying 42 students aged 21 to 23 from Sultan Idris Education University (UPSI). It was travelling from Terengganu to the university's main campus in Tanjung Malim, Perak, when the crash happened at around 1.10am. Thirteen people died at the scene while two others succumbed to their injuries in hospital. In the wake of the tragedy, Malaysia Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim ordered a probe while Loke vowed to take 'stern action' to improve road safety, acknowledging criticism of the country's ageing road infrastructure and unsafe road conditions. ANOTHER BUS CRASH INVOLVING UNIVERSITY STUDENTS A day after the deadly Perak crash, an express bus travelling from Kuala Lumpur to Kuantan with 28 passengers on board collided with a trailer in the early hours of Tuesday (Jun 10). The bus passengers included 13 students from Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah (UMPSA). No injuries were reported, according to Maran police chief Wong Kim Wai, as quoted by news outlet Kosmo. The bus had rammed into the trailer in front of it, said Wong, according to local media reports. The accident happened at around 1am on Tuesday (Jun 10) at KM161.5 of the eastbound section of the East Coast Expressway. Investigations are ongoing but preliminary findings show the crash resulted from the bus driver's carelessness and inability to control his vehicle, Wong said. The bus passengers, who were travelling from the Southern Integrated Transport Terminal in Kuala Lumpur to the Kuantan Sentral Terminal, were transferred onto another bus and continued on their journey, Kosmo reported. After arriving at the university's mosque in Kuantan, the 13 students were given 'food, emotional support, and temporary accommodation', said UMPSA vice-chancellor Professor Dr Yatimah Alias in a media statement.
New Straits Times
2 days ago
- New Straits Times
Brake failure likely caused Gerik crash, says bus operator
KOTA BARU: Brake failure and a technical fault may have caused the crash that killed 15 Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI) students near Tasik Banding, Gerik yesterday, the bus operator claimed. Kenari Utara operations officer Nazri Nawi said this was based on information gathered after speaking with the driver. "This was something that couldn't be avoided. Before the trip, the bus was in good condition as we carried out the scheduled maintenance," he said. Nazri said the crash could have been triggered when the bus's air brake system failed. "When the air system is empty, the brakes, gear and handbrake stop functioning." He dismissed claims that the bus driver was speeding. "I'm confident he was not speeding as claimed online. He is a careful driver and knows the road well. The viral video probably showed the bus going fast because the brakes failed while going downhill on a winding road." Nazri extended his condolences to the victims and their families, saying the company was deeply saddened by the incident. Police earlier said the bus crashed after rear-ending a Perodua Alza before overturning.
Free Malaysia Today
3 days ago
- Free Malaysia Today
Bus in Gerik crash newly serviced, had no issues, says firm
A total of 15 UPSI students on board the bus died in the crash that occurred on the Gerik-Jeli East West Highway, near Tasik Banding. (Bernama pic) PETALING JAYA : The bus involved in this morning's accident that killed 15 university students was recently serviced and the driver has a good track record, says the firm that operated the bus. Kenari Utara Travel & Tours Sdn Bhd said the bus, which was serviced last month, had no issues and was always sent in for service on schedule. Kenari Utara operations officer Nazri Nawi said the driver, who was loaned by another company, was known to be a responsible driver well-versed with the Gerik-Jeli route, Berita Harian reported. 'What has happened is very sad. I'm not saddened by the damage sustained by the bus, but the deaths and injuries to the Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI) students on board,' he said. The accident took place on the Gerik-Jeli East West Highway, near Tasik Banding. It is understood that the bus was on the way from Jerteh, Terengganu, to Tanjung Malim, Perak. A total of 48 victims were involved: 42 students, the bus driver and his assistant, and a married couple along with their six-year-old daughter and three-year-old son, who were in a Perodua Alza the bus collided with. Thirteen UPSI students died at the scene and two at the hospital. Police are forming a special task force, joined by the Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research, road transport department, Land Public Transport Agency and other relevant agencies to investigate the crash.
New Straits Times
3 days ago
- Automotive
- New Straits Times
Gerik crash: Bus was in good condition, says operator
KOTA BARU: Kenari Utara, the bus company involved in the fatal crash that claimed the lives of 15 Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI) students, said its vehicle was in good condition. Its operations officer, Nazri Nawi, said the bus had been serviced last month and had not experienced any issues. He said the bus driver, who was temporarily brought in from another company, was a responsible person and familiar with the route between Gerik and Jeli. "What happened was very sad. "I wasn't upset about the bus breaking down, but what affected me most was the fact that UPSI students who were on our bus lost their lives and were injured in the incident. "However, what I can say is that our bus is in good condition and has always undergone maintenance according to schedule. "The bus was purchased in 2013 and still has five years left to be used as a tour bus," he said when contacted today. Earlier this morning, 15 people were killed when the bus they were in collided with a multi-purpose vehicle along Jalan Jeli - Grik near Tasik Banding, Perak. The accident involved a UPSI student bus and a Perodua Alza. A total of 33 people were injured. According to a statement from the Civil Defence Force (CDF), the Banun Disaster Operations Control Centre received a distress call concerning the incident, which involved 48 victims, at 1.10am. Several injured victims, including those suffering from broken arms, broken legs, and minor injuries, were rushed to Gerik Hospital. Meanwhile, police have urged those with information on the accident to come forward. investigation into the accident would cover all angles.
