Proposal for committee to monitor report, follow up of express bus crash

PUTRAJAYA: The Transport Ministry has proposed the setting up of a monitoring committee to monitor the implementation and follow-up of the recommendations contained in the assessment report on the Genting Highlands bus crash in August 2013 in a bid to address accident issues involving express buses.
Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook said the proposal for the setting up of the committee would be tabled to the Cabinet during its weekly meeting on Wednesday.
He said there were 51 recommendations given in the report as a result of the study on the bus accident that claimed 37 lives five years ago, with each aimed at improving the express bus system in the country.
"I have asked the ministry's secretary-general to revisit the report and we want to really monitor how far the recommendations have been implemented over the years.
"We do not need to carry out a new study, now is the time to follow up after the previous study," he told a press a press conference, here today,
The assessment on the bus crash at Jalan Genting Highlands-Kuala Lumpur on Aug 21, 2013, which claimed 37 lives and was deemed the worst bus tragedy in the country, was carried out by the Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (Miros).
On the Takata airbag issue, Loke said he would convene a meeting with dealers of cars using the airbag, namely Honda, Toyota, Nissan, BMW, Mitsubishi, Subaru, Mazda and Lexus.
"The number is getting bigger. I received a report that Honda alone has 70,000 cars (with defective Takata airbag).
"I will inform you about the actual number of vehicles involved tomorrow and also the necessary steps to be taken for the car owners to have their airbags replaced as soon as possible," he said.
Yesterday, Loke said the Transport Ministry had instructed the Road Transport Department not to allow road tax renewal for owners of cars with defective Takata airbag. — Bernama