Latest news with #ScaniaMalaysia
New Straits Times
2 days ago
- Business
- New Straits Times
Gerik crash: Operator's licence of tour bus company terminated, says Loke
SHAH ALAM: The tour bus company involved in the tragic crash in Gerik, Perak, which claimed the lives of 15 Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI) students, has had its operator's licence terminated, said Transport Minister Anthony Loke. "First of all, the company's operator's licence has been terminated. Many people misunderstand and think we only revoked the permit for the vehicle," he said after a briefing on Speed Limitation Devices (SLD) for heavy vehicles at Scania Malaysia's factory in Bukit Jelutong Industrial Park today. Loke said that there is a distinction between a vehicle permit and an operator's licence, the former applies to individual vehicles, while the latter covers the entire company. Termination of the licence effectively grounds all vehicles under the company's operations. He said the same action was taken in the Teluk Intan crash involving a gravel lorry and a Federal Reserve Unit (FRU) truck. "Firstly, the operator's licence was terminated. Secondly, we will take the owner of the company to court. This is a criminal case," said Loke. However, he added that the families of victims may also pursue civil proceedings for compensation. On Wednesday, Loke announced that all permits held by the tour bus company involved in the Gerik crash had been revoked with immediate effect following multiple breaches of permit conditions. He said the company had committed two major violations, leasing its operating permit to a third party, and failing to activate the vehicle's GPS tracking system.
New Straits Times
2 days ago
- New Straits Times
Loke tells bus associations to expose permit lease abusers, not just blame ministry
SHAH ALAM: Transport Minister Anthony Loke has urged bus associations to provide evidence of permit leasing abuses, in response to claims that thousands of express and tour buses are operating illegally in the country. "The association should have helped us if they knew. "They should have blacklisted the companies involved or named them publicly to help clean up the industry," said Loke during a briefing on Speed Limitation Devices (SLD) for heavy vehicles at Scania Malaysia's factory in Bukit Jelutong Industrial Park today. He said the ministry is prepared to suspend and revoke the licences of those found leasing out their bus permits, provided associations inform the authorities of the culprits. Loke said the association should not simply point fingers at the ministry, as it too has a responsibility to the public. He clarified that since such leases are agreements between two parties, a permit owner and an operator, the authorities would have no knowledge of them without proper investigation. Acknowledging criticism directed at the Transport Ministry, Loke said he takes responsibility and accepts all views on the matter. However, he stressed that criticism alone will not solve the problem. "Blaming the Transport Ministry alone will not fix everything. Reckless driving is a problem that requires a collective effort, from society, drivers, and operators," he said. He said the ministry would adopt a more targeted and technology-driven approach going forward, but warned that the issue will persist if attitudes do not change. Earlier today, Bumiputera Express Bus Operators Association of Malaysia (PPBBM) chairman Zainal Abidin Mehat revealed that thousands of express and tour buses nationwide are operating illegally using leased permits — a practice that contravenes the Land Public Transport Act 2010. Abidin was reported as saying that the leasing of public transport bus permits had been an ongoing issue for some time. Last Wednesday, Loke said the tour bus company involved in the fatal Gerik crash had committed a major violation by leasing its operating permit to a third party. All permits held by the company have since been revoked with immediate effect, following multiple breaches of permit conditions, including failure to activate the vehicle's GPS tracking system. Nation 5 hours ago Horrific Gerik crash exposes dark truth behind bus permit leasing Nation Jun 12, 2025 @ 3:45am Gerik tragedy: Bus operator may face legal action, says Loke Nation an hour ago Tourism bus control: Loke open to shared role Nation Jun 12, 2025 @ 3:58am Gerik crash: Brake failure claim under probe, says Loke
Malaysian Reserve
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Malaysian Reserve
Mandatory speed limit device, 90kph speed cap for heavy vehicles
by HIDAYATH HISHAM COMMERCIAL buses and heavy vehicles in Malaysia will soon be required to install and activate speed limitation devices (SLDs), with a maximum speed cap of 90kph. Transport Minister Anthony Loke said the enforcement will begin in stages from October, led by the Road Transport Department (JPJ), as part of efforts to improve road safety. 'This device plays an important role in preventing driving beyond the prescribed speed limit, especially for vehicles carrying heavy loads or passengers,' he said at the SLD enforcement launch at Scania Malaysia's facility in Shah Alam, Selangor, today. From Oct 1, all express buses, tour buses and goods vehicles over 3,500kg registered on or after Jan 1, 2015, must undergo a functionality check every two years to ensure their SLDs are operating correctly. The verification report must be issued by either the vehicle manufacturer, a JPJ-recognised workshop or service facility, an accredited technical service or a certification body approved by the Department of Standards Malaysia. Loke said the document must be carried in the vehicle at all times and will also be required during inspections at Pusat Pemeriksaan Kenderaan Motor (PPKM) and for permit applications or renewals with the Land Public Transport Agency (APAD). For vehicles registered before 2015 with SLDs embedded in their electronic control units (ECUs), activation will be mandatory starting Jan 1, 2026. Vehicles without any existing SLDs — including older heavy vehicles and rebuilt or imported used units — must install the device by July 1, 2026. Retrofitting, Loke added, must be carried out by a JPJ-recognised workshop, technical service provider or accredited certification body, in full compliance with technical specifications set by the authorities. Once installed, the device must be verified, documented in an official report and renewed every two years. The report must also be kept in the vehicle for enforcement purposes. JPJ will also expand its Conformity of Production (COP) inspections — which began in April — to cover commercial vehicle models with Vehicle Type Approval (VTA) issued from 2015 onwards. 'The implementation of this enforcement is an important step towards ensuring commercial vehicles comply with critical safety features, thereby reducing the risk of road accidents involving loss of life and property,' he said. Loke urged vehicle manufacturers, logistics firms and fleet operators to give full cooperation in supporting safer, more compliant transport systems under the Malaysia Madani framework.
New Straits Times
2 days ago
- Automotive
- New Straits Times
Kejara demerit system set for "massive overhaul", says Loke
SHAH ALAM: The Kejara demerit system will undergo a massive overhaul to address critical weaknesses in its current enforcement mechanism, Transport Minister Anthony Loke said. "It's completely ineffective right now because the demerit points are only deducted after someone pays their summons," he said after a briefing on Speed Limitation Devices (SLD) at Scania Malaysia's factory in Bukit Jelutong Industrial Park today. Loke highlighted a major flaw in the system, noting that many drivers choose not to pay their summonses in order to avoid demerit deductions. He said the ministry intends to maintain the system but with significant reforms to its functionality, including immediate demerit point deductions following an offence. However, Loke clarified that this would require a review of existing legislation. Last Tuesday, Federal Traffic Enforcement and Investigation Department director Datuk Seri Mohd Yusri Hassan Basri said the driver of the bus carrying students from Sultan Idris Education University (UPSI), which crashed in Gerik and claimed 15 lives, had a record of 18 traffic summonses. Checks on the driver's record showed that 13 summonses were for speeding, one for an accident-related offence, three for not wearing a seatbelt, and one for a faulty third brake light.
Malay Mail
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Malay Mail
Transport minister: Kejara demerit point system a failure, major overhaul on the way
SHAH ALAM, June 13 — The demerit point system for traffic offences (Kejara) will undergo a major overhaul as it is not effective in its current state, Transport Minister Anthony Loke had said. Currently, the Kejara only issues a demerit when a summons is paid. 'The system is that, only if you have paid the summons, then you will be considered to have committed an offence and then your points are deducted. 'Our problem is, many people don't pay their summonses. So this system is a failed system. 'As the transport minister, I'm openly admitting that this is a failed system because if the demerit points are only deducted once a summons is paid, then offenders will think that it's better to not pay up,' Loke told reporters after his work visit to the Scania Malaysia headquarters here today. He stressed that the government will continue with Kejara, but it will undergo major changes. 'Firstly, it will not be a point system that is based on a paid summon. 'We are already looking into it from the aspects of law and its application,' he said. The Kejara demerit point system was introduced in 2016. In September 2018, the Transport Ministry released an updated demerit point system as a part of its new Automated Awareness Safety System (AWAS), with changes to the scoring and levels at which penalties are applied.
