Six causes of Genting bus crash identified

The long-awaited investigation report on the Genting Highlands bus crash on Aug 21, which claimed 37 lives, has identified six factors that contributed to the tragedy.

Acting Transport Minister Hishammuddin Hussein announced the results of the investigation report done by the Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (Miros) today, saying that a combination of six factors had caused the accident.

1. The physical evidence collected and scientific analysis show that the bus had been speeding, exceeding the limit of 50kph. The evidence of the surviving victims also supported that the driver was going too fast.

2. Lack of efficiency of the bus’s brakes caused by the brake linings on the two front wheels of the bus being worn away, and probably the failure of the handbrake, had caused the bus to fail to slow down when it was approaching a sharp corner at the accident site.

3. The location of the Truck Escape Ramp (TER) that was hidden by the horizontal curvature and the inaccuracy of the information on the road sign had caused difficulties for the driver to use the TER to avoid the vehicle from crashing into the ravine.

4.  The width of the road lane which was 4.2 metres to 4.9 metres, exceeded the standard 3.25 metres and this had led to motorists driving faster at that particular spot.

5. The usages of the TL-2 type of rubble wall and guardrail which were not suitable to be used as safety barriers at a slope zone.

6. The bus company Genting Highlands Transport Sdn Bhd’s implementation on the code of ethics on safety, health and environment was highly unsatisfactory.

Company might be in trouble

Speaking at a press conference today, Hishammuddin said that it is up to the Land Public Transport Commission (Spad) to take action against the bus company.

He said that the actions could include closing down the company or bringing it to court.

“I have directed the enforcement authorities, whether it is the Road Transport Department (JPJ), police or Spad, not just to take action against the company. If there is any law that permits it, action must also be taken against the individuals who are responsible of the company,” he said.

However, the minister stressed that the bus company has nothing to do with Genting Highland Holdings, despite there being a similarity in their names.

“There are a lot of ‘Hishammuddins’ out there but they have nothing to do with me,” he quipped, adding that the representatives of Genting Highlands Holdings, who also attended the previous meeting, had vowed to show “101 percent” support to the action taken by the government.

New safety measures

Asked if action would be taken against any other parties, Hishammuddin said that the road where the accident occured belong to a private company.

"Whether we can take action or not will depend very much on, firstly, whether the condition of the road had actually caused the accident.

"Secondly, whether the laws are sufficient to make the third party liable," he said.

Hishammuddin noted that the transport ministry would be taking several measures to prevent similar tragedies in the future, even before the investigation report is tabled to the cabinet.

These measures, he said, include the establishment of a new department under the JPJ to vet bus drivers and to deploy JPJ and Puspakom officers in Genting Highlands to improve enforcement efforts.

He added that 50 'hotspots' throughout the country would be receiving a similar treatment.

“Subsequently, a massive campaign on road safety which involves all stakeholders will be carried out throughout Malaysia.

“With this, I hope and pray that the outcome of this awareness campaign will make sure that those who died in this Genting Highlands tragedy will be valued,” he added.