A memorandum to create the Malaysian Transport Safety Board will soon go to Cabinet, aiming to investigate road accidents and improve transport safety
KUALA LUMPUR: A memorandum to establish the Malaysian Transport Safety Board is expected to be presented to the Cabinet soon.
Transport Minister Anthony Loke said the MTSB will be tasked with investigating road accidents nationwide.
Once Cabinet approval is obtained, the MTSB Bill will be tabled in Parliament.
The Ministry of Transport held engagement sessions with agencies and stakeholders from May to October this year.
Further sessions will be held with the governments of Sabah and Sarawak.
Workshops on staffing proposals, the draft bill and necessary legal amendments will also be conducted.
Loke was responding to a question from Shaharizukirnain Abd Kadir regarding delays in establishing the MTSB.
The board has been proposed for nearly 11 years amid persistently high road accident rates.
Until the MTSB is established, MOT will continue using special accident investigation committees.
These committees have probed accidents involving FRU personnel in Teluk Intan and UPSI students in Gerik.
Regarding the MTSB’s independence model, Loke said it has not yet been finalised.
The ministry is considering various views and comparing with international transport safety agencies.
“We are also considering best practices adopted abroad,” he said.
Loke emphasised that investigative agencies must maintain independence.
“The task force we have established is already free to conduct any investigation and make recommendations,” he said.
“Once the report is completed, it will not be edited or amended, and it will be released publicly.” – Bernama
