Police will investigate thoroughly to identify the actual cause of the fatal accident involving an express bus which plunged into a deep ravine at Km137.3 off the northbound side of the North-South Expressway, near the Pagoh R&R area, last Saturday.

Johor deputy police chief Mohd Zakaria Ahmad said the investigation would be from all aspects to ascertain the actual cause of the accident, whether it was the bus driver himself, mechanical failure or the road condition.

"We will be collaborating with other agencies like the Malaysian Highway Authority, Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research, Road Transport Department and Puspakom Sdn Bhd to facilitate the investigation."

Mohd Zakaria said this to reporters after attending the monthly assembly of the Johor Baru police contingent headquarters in the state capital today.

He said matters to be looked into would include express bus drivers' rest hours, provision of second driver in service, endurance and frequency of bus maintenance and bus trip schedules.

"The bus company had previously informed of providing second drivers but the truth of the claim will be investigated. Accidents had occurred at the area of the expressway before, but not often," he added.

According to him, the initial police investigation showed the possibility of speed factor as the bus did not hit any other vehicle, and there were no tyre marks on the road to indicate braking while inspection of the bus and eyewitness accounts indicated strong impact of the crash.

Mohd Zakaria said the tragic accident had drawn the attention of a lot of people and the country's top leaders, hence drivers, regardless of the individuals, families and transport service providers must prioritise safety.

In the accident on Christmas Eve, 14 people perished, including a one-year-old girl, while 16 others were injured when the express bus skidded, plunged into a deep ravine and hit a concrete barrier at Kampung Jayor.

- Bernama