Overturned bus Genting Highlands: Tour company license temporarily suspended
King Sing spoke to reporters after visiting the eight victims who were treated at Kuala Lumpur Hospital on Sunday.
30/06/2024 1
KUALA LUMPUR: The Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC) temporarily suspended the license of the tour company involved in the incident of a bus carrying Chinese tourists overturned at Kilometer 16.5 of Jalan Genting Highlands on Saturday.
Summary of AI
MOTAC temporarily suspended the license of the tour company involved in the overturned bus incident on Jalan Genting Highlands, which claimed two lives.
A thorough investigation is underway, including a special meeting with the Ministry of Transport and JPJ on July 2, to determine next steps.
Bus drivers have been remanded, and tour companies may lose their licenses if found guilty, with an emphasis on tourist safety and SOP compliance.
Its minister, Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing, said the operating license was temporarily suspended until a comprehensive investigation into the incident that claimed two lives was completed.
According to him, a special meeting involving his ministry together with the Ministry of Transport and the Road Transport Department (JPJ) will be held on July 2 for that purpose.
"I have asked for a full investigation to be carried out in terms of the travel company which is understood to have appointed a third party.
"I also received complaints from tourists about the buses provided being unsuitable for use when the buses were changed three times during the six days and five nights of the holiday.
"This proves that the bus is not well maintained, it has problems with no air conditioning and noise," he said after visiting the eight victims who were treated at Kuala Lumpur Hospital on Sunday.
All the victims who received treatment are in a stable condition and are undergoing further examination until they are allowed to leave.
Also present, the Chinese Ambassador to Malaysia, Ouyang Yujing.
He said that his side apologized following the incident and did not hesitate to withdraw the tourism company's license if found guilty.
He said, so far the bus driver has been remanded to help the investigation.
"The safety of tourists is our priority because the ministry often reminds tourism companies to cooperate in doing the necessary steps for that purpose.
"Don't take the lives of tourists for granted just to make a profit in business," he said.
At the same time, he said, JPJ was urged to enforce strict monitoring of compliance with the standard operating procedures (SOP) of tourist bus services to avoid similar incidents.
Meanwhile, Bentong District Police Chief, Superintendent Zaiham Mohd Kahar informed that the 32-year-old bus driver was remanded for four days from Sunday to assist in the investigation.
On Saturday, Sinar Harian reported that the bus carrying 21 passengers consisting of 18 Chinese tourists and three locals including the bus driver, assistant and tour guide overturned.
The bus involved crashed into the middle wall of the road divider before overturning.
As a result of the incident, two Chinese passengers, Wang Shuhong, 49, and Zhang Ping, 58, were confirmed dead at the scene while 13 others were injured.
Eight victims received treatment at HKL and the remaining received treatment at Bentong Hospital.
