Special committe yet to pinpoint cause of Aug 21 bus tragedy in Genting Highlands

Preliminary findings of the Special Committee set up to probe the Genting Highlands bus tragedy on Aug 21, have not been able to pinpoint the actual cause of the accident, said Acting Transport Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein.

The accident, the worst ever road disaster in the country, claimed 37 lives and left 16 others injured.

Hishammuddin, who is also Defence Minister, said the findings which were tabled by the Road Safety Department (JKJR) today, could not reveal whether the accident was due to the driver's fault, the bus structure itself, road conditions, the gradient, brakes or tyres.

He said apart from the results of the initial investigation, the parties involved also showed a simulation of the accident at the committee's meeting on Wednesday.

"Several representatives of the Special Committee also held discussions with the management of Genting Berhad today on measures to improve road safety which touched on various aspects including bus operators in the area," he told reporters when asked about progress on the probe after he chaired a post-Cabinet meeting at the Defence Ministry here.

He said the discussions were held as the route to Genting Highlands was a private road under the management of Genting.

On the same note, Hishammuddin said the Cabinet had agreed to take proactive measures to raise the safety level at accident prone areas throughout the country, in particular Genting Highlands and Simpang Pulai, Perak.

As such, he said an action plan would be formulated for the purpose by a special committee under his ministry which would be made of representatives from the Police, Road Transport Department (JPJ), JKJR and Malaysian Institute on Road Safety (Miros).

"This proactive step will be implemented as soon as possible to assure safety of road users," he said.