Bentong crash: SPAD will take stern action on bus operator

The Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) will investigate the bus company involved in a fatal accident in Bentong on Saturday.

Three died while 65 others were injured when a double-decker express bus overturned at KM11 of Jalan Bentong-Raub while traveling from Kuala Lumpur to Kota Bahru.

“SPAD will not compromise and ensure that stern action will be taken against bus operators found guilty violating the Land Public Transport Act 2010,” its chairman Tan Sri Syed Hamid Albar said in a press statement on Sunday.

The Bentong accident happened near the site of the Genting Highland’s bus crash which claimed 37 lives in August 2013. A report on the crash confirmed that the accident was due to human error.

Following the incident, SPAD has taken several steps to beef up enforcement in the industry - the Industry Code of Practice (ICOP) circular issued on August 2013 pays serious emphasis on the safety aspects of vehicles operating at high grounds and ICOP - Safety circular issued on September 9, 2013 which requires bus operators to uphold all aspects of safety, maintenance and supervision of drivers.

SPAD said more than 2300 bus operators have participated in the SPAD ICOP Safety programme since its implementation in December 2012.

The commission also revealed that it conducted audit checks on 24 express bus operators involved in traffic accident since mid-2013.

SPAD subsequently suspended six licences and revoked two permits of operators that were found guilty of offences under the SPAD-ICOP Safety and the Land Public Transport Act 2010 act.