Latest news with #SafetyAuditandInspectionReport
New Straits Times
2 days ago
- New Straits Times
Gerik crash: Brake failure claim under probe, says Loke
GERIK: Transport Minister Anthony Loke has issued a stern warning to the bus driver involved in the Gerik crash that claimed the lives of 15 Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI) students, cautioning him against making false claims, as these can be verified through mechanical testing. He said the exact cause of the accident — whether due to road conditions or driver negligence — had yet to be determined. "I've been informed that the area is indeed poorly lit at night, and the crash site is located on elevated terrain, which is often enveloped in fog. "Nevertheless, we wish to emphasise that the cause of the accident is still under investigation. Whether it stemmed from the road conditions or the driver's actions, a full inquiry is already underway," he told reporters after visiting the crash site and inspecting the tour bus and Perodua Alza involved in the collision, outside the district police headquarters here today. Asked about the driver's claim that the bus suffered brake failure during the incident, Loke said the matter would soon be confirmed, as Puspakom had already carried out an inspection of the vehicle's braking system. "We cannot accept the driver's statement at face value. He could be telling the truth, or he could be attempting to deflect blame. I would like to warn him: do not make false claims, as they can be disproven through technical analysis. "There are also other developments that have come to light. Firstly, dashcam footage shows the bus was speeding while overtaking. "Secondly, we conducted a Safety Audit and Inspection Report (JISA) on the company and the vehicle, and the company failed the audit," he said. Loke added that all findings would be verified and detailed in a forthcoming technical report. On Monday, the bus, carrying 42 UPSI students, was travelling from Jertih, Terengganu, to the university's main campus when it collided with a Perodua Alza at KM53 of the East-West Highway. Thirteen students died at the scene, while two others were pronounced dead in hospital.
New Straits Times
2 days ago
- New Straits Times
Gerik bus crash: Company failed to comply with safety criteria, says Loke
GERIK: The operator of the bus involved in the fatal crash here which saw 15 university students lose their lives failed to comply with all seven mandatory safety audit criteria under the Safety Audit and Inspection Report (JISA). Transport Minister Anthony Loke revealed that a comprehensive JISA conducted by the Road Transport Department (RTD) found the operator had neglected critical safety protocols. Three of the criteria are appointment of a safety officer; speed monitoring via GPS; and, adherence to the maximum eight-hour driving limit. The others are 30-minute rest breaks for every four hours of driving; GPS installation in all vehicles; an Emergency Response Plan; and, a company hotline for customer complaints. "These are the seven basic mandatory requirements in a JISA audit, and the company failed. "The JISA audit is carried out by the RTD on a periodic basis for transport operators. But of course, we can't audit every operator... we do it randomly, not comprehensively," Loke told reporters outside the district police headquarters. The bus involved in the crash had been towed to the district police headquarters. Loke said, according to standard operating procedures, whenever there is a road crash, whether fatal or not, an audit will be conducted. "If a company is found to be non-compliant during an audit, we will suspend their operations," he said. Loke also said he has instructed the RTD to launch a large-scale JISA audit across all public transport operators, including buses, lorries, and others. "I want to remind all operators that they have a responsibility. They shouldn't wait for the RTD to conduct an audit. They are responsible for complying with vehicle permit conditions, which are clearly outlined. "These are not new requirements. They know the rules, but compliance is very poor. So this is a warning to all transport operators, you'd better buck up and start complying. "Conduct your own internal audits before RTD steps in, because the department will launch a major audit operation. "Let me be clear... this isn't just a reactive response to this accident," he said, adding that JISA audits have always been conducted on a continuous basis. When asked when the large-scale audit would start, he said it was already ongoing. "Previously, we focused on high-risk companies or those involved in any accident not just fatal ones. Even if it's a minor accident or a police report is made, we'll conduct an audit on the company. "So yes, audits have always been conducted. I don't want anyone saying we didn't do audits before, no, audits were always done. But now we will intensify and expand them," he said. On Monday, the bus carrying 42 Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris students was travelling from Jertih, Terengganu, to the university's main campus when it skidded and collided with a Perodua Alza at Km53 of the East-West Highway. Thirteen students died at the scene while two others were pronounced dead in hospital. The bus driver, his attendant and the other UPSI students, as well as the family of four in the Alza all sustained injuries of varying degrees.
