Latest news with #SpeedLimitationDevices
New Straits Times
a day 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 On Wednesday, Loke announced that all permits held by the tour bus company involved in the Gerik crash had been revoked with immediate effect following multiple breaches of permit conditions.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
a day 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
New Straits Times
a day ago
- New Straits Times
Tourism bus control: Loke open to shared role
SHAH ALAM: Transport Minister Anthony Loke has welcomed the Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry's latest push to regain control over tourism-related vehicles such as buses, saying he is open to a shared responsibility approach. "However, my condition is that Road Transport Department (RTD) enforcement personnel cannot be reduced (and moved to the Tourism Ministry) because we are already constrained," Loke 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 the matter had been raised well before the fatal crash in Gerik involving a tour bus, as Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing had expressed his desire for the ministry to regain control over tour busses two years ago. "If you want to take responsibility, and if you can guarantee the safety of tour buses, I would be more than happy to hand that power back," he said. However, Loke pointed out that the final decision lies with the Cabinet as there are various implications, including those involving human resources through the Public Services Department. Last Wednesday, the Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry 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. The ministry added that parties involved in tourism and student exchange programmes from Asean, the Middle East, China, Japan and South Korea had expressed their concerns following the bus crash in Gerik that claimed the lives of 15 Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI) students and left many others injured.
New Straits Times
a day 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.
The Sun
a day ago
- Automotive
- The Sun
Mandatory enforcement of SLD for commercial vehicles starts Oct 1
SHAH ALAM: The Ministry of Transport will begin phased enforcement of mandatory Speed Limitation Devices (SLD) for commercial vehicles, including express and tour buses, starting Oct 1 this year. Transport Minister Anthony Loke said the enforcement by the Road Transport Department (RTD) is part of the ministry's broader initiative to enhance road safety and reduce the risk of fatal accidents involving such vehicles. The phased implementation will initially apply to all express and tour buses, as well as heavy goods vehicles exceeding 3,500 kilogrammes (kg) in maximum permissible weight, registered from Jan 1, 2015 onwards. 'Operators are required to obtain a functional verification and SLD report from the vehicle manufacturer or any party recognised by the RTD, including technical services, authorised workshops or service facilities, or certification bodies accredited by the Department of Standards Malaysia,' he said. The SLD verification documents and reports must be renewed every two years and presented at the Computerised Vehicle Inspection Centre (Puspakom) as well as during permit applications or renewals with the Land Public Transport Agency (APAD), he added. Speaking at a press conference following the launch of the SLD implementation for commercial vehicles today, he said the verification documents must be kept in the vehicle at all times for enforcement purposes. Loke said the activation of the SLD function within the Electronic Control Unit will be mandatory from Jan 1, 2026 for heavy goods vehicles exceeding 3,500 kg and vehicles carrying more than eight passengers that were registered before Jan 1, 2015. He added that the requirement will also apply to rebuilt vehicles and imported used goods vehicles exceeding 3,500 kg in maximum permissible weight. He said that for heavy goods vehicles exceeding 3,500 kg and vehicles carrying more than eight passengers that are not equipped with an SLD system, it will be mandatory to install an RTD-approved retrofit SLD device, effective July 1, 2026. 'This enforcement is a crucial step to ensure that commercial vehicles comply with critical safety standards, thereby reducing the risk of road accidents involving loss of life and property,' Loke emphasised. He pointed out that all buses and heavy vehicles will be subject to a maximum speed limit of 90 km/h through the mandatory installation of the SLD. 'This device will cap the speed of buses and heavy vehicles at 90 km/h. However, drivers must still adhere to speed limits applicable in specific areas,' he explained. 'Even on highways where the speed limit is up to 110 km/h, vehicles equipped with the SLD will be restricted to 90 km/h. This will be enforced consistently,' he said. Loke also announced that the RTD will convene a meeting soon with all major vehicle manufacturers and accredited certification bodies regarding the enforcement of the SLD. 'There will be further details on the implementation mechanism, and the list of approved companies and certifying bodies authorised to verify SLDs will be published on the RTD website soon,' he added.
