The Commercial Vehicle Licensing Board (CVLB) has revoked express bus and charter licences with immediate effect from the two bus companies involved in separate tragic accidents last month.

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Mohd Nazri Aziz said today that 11 express bus licences were pulled back from Syarikat Kuala Lumpur-Malacca Express Sdn Bhd and 99 charter bus licences from Syarikat Taipan Suria (MM2H) Sdn Bhd.

The CVLB has also revoked one letter of approval for a charter bus for MM2H.

NONE On Oct 10, an express bus owned by Syarikat Kuala Lumpur-Malacca Express and five vehicles were involved in a crash that killed 12 people at the Km223 of the North-South Expressway near Simpang Ampat, Malacca.

On Oct 29, seven people were killed in an accident at Km36 of the Karak Highway, near Genting Sempah. They were among 44 people on a chartered bus belonging to MM2H.

Mohd Nazri told reporters in the Parliament lobby that the action is intended as a deterrence against negligence.

The government is determined to ensure that every commercial vehicle company is responsible for the safety of passengers, and that they comply with regulations.

" mohd nazri abdul aziz interview 220206 talking I am warning every commercial vehicle owner not to have a lackadaisical attitude or be irresponsible (over the) safety of public transportation users.

"I will not hesitate to take stern action such as suspending or cancelling any licences of owners who do not comply with the regulations.”

He explained that Syarikat Kuala Lumpur-Malacca Express had violated Section 20(A)(1) of the Commercial Vehicle Licensing Board Act 1987 as it had failed to get the board’s approval for the company’s equity change.

It also did not fulfil Section 19(3) of the same Act because the company did not adhere to the Safety, Health and Environment code in managing the company, vehicles, drivers, travel management risk and documentation.

Use of vehicle ‘outsourced’

MM2H was found to have violated Section 40(1) of the Act as it failed to produce records, accounts, financial statements and other documents required by the board.

“The management also admitted that it did not have complete documents or records with regard to the company’s operations,” said Nazri.

“The management said that the rights to the vehicle with registered licence number RC9863, which was involved in the crash, had been given to a third party.”

He also noted that both the companies had not complied with the Motor Vehicles (Commercial Transport) Rules 1959, as they had failed to notify CVLB of the change of operational address within seven days.

Peninsular Malaysia CVLB director Naimah Ramli said the companies have 30 days to appeal, but that the final decision would be at the discretion of the transport minister.

Road Transport Department director-general Solah Mat Hassan added that he is waiting for the police to complete their probe on the driver involved in the Karak Highway crash, before taking further action. The driver suffered a fractured knee and was hospitalised.