Express bus services to be assessed through star-rating system from July 1

Starting July 1, the government will implement a star-rating system for all express bus companies to assess the quality of their services.

Deputy Transport Minister Datuk Abdul Aziz Kaprawi said apart from creating a healthy competition, the move was also aimed at reducing accident rates involving express buses.

He said the star-rating system would not only assess the level of passenger safety, but would also help the bus operators to ensure that their vehicles were constantly in good condition by adhering to the periodical maintenance schedule.

Abdul Aziz said this in reply to Senator Datuk Jaspal Singh who had wanted to know the initiatives taken by the ministry in reducing accident rates involving express buses at the Dewan Negara sitting today.

The deputy minister said the companies would be rated on a scale from zero to five stars based on the excellence level of their services and company management, as well as inspection by the Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research.

He said the star-rating achieved by the companies would be put on display inside their buses and at all of their counters nationwide.