THE Transport Ministry will start a major crackdown on all buses, beginning with tour buses tomorrow, said Anthony Loke.

The transport minister said this following the fatal crash in Genting Highlands that claimed the lives of two tourists from China over the weekend.

He also said his ministry’s officials will be holding talks with tourism ministry counterparts on how to improve enforcement SOPs when it comes to travel companies and tour buses.

“We will have a major crackdown on all buses, beginning with tour buses tomorrow,” he was quoted as saying in Free Malaysia Today.

“The SOPs in themselves are already stringent but compliance is the issue. This operator (in the Genting crash) did not comply with the conditions of our SOPs, which includes limits on the age of vehicles.

“It broke all of these conditions, and that becomes a problem when we have such irresponsible operators,” he said.

Loke also said the travel firm involved in the crash should be charged with failing to comply with licence conditions.

“It is clear that the company did not comply with the conditions of its licence by allowing a driver to drive without a licence while the bus permit had expired on February 16. It broke the law, causing the loss of two lives, and tarnished the nation’s image,” he said.

The Saturday morning accident resulted in the death of Chinese nationals Zhang Ping, 58, and Wang Shuhong, 49. 

The bus was carrying 18 foreign tourists, the bus driver, an assistant and a tour guide.

Police said that the 32-year-old tour bus driver lacked a driving licence and had 27 traffic summonses for various offences. He is under remand to assist in investigations.

The operating licence of the travel firm involved, meanwhile, has been suspended by the Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry. – July 1, 2024.