By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Feb 27: The government is studying several forms of assistance to reduce financing costs and support for the purchase of new tour buses, as operators may be required to replace their vehicles within five to ten years to ensure safety remains at the highest standard.
According to Minister of Tourism, Arts, and Culture, Dato Sri Tiong King Sing, the measures are currently in the final stage of discussions with the Ministry of Finance and will be announced once finalised.
Tiong, who is also Bintulu MP and Dudong assemblyman, said that this stemmed from several accidents that occurred last year, which have affected the country’s image.
This has led to the Ministry of Tourism, Arts, and Culture (Motac) holding discussions with the Ministry of Transport to streamline licensing approvals and the management of tour buses under a single ministry with the aim of monitoring mechanisms, improving governance efficiency, and ensuring consistent safety standards.
“In addition, we are also paying attention to the issue of certain large-sized buses that lack adequate capability when travelling on hilly roads, thereby posing safety risks. Excess baggage loads and the use of older engines can further increase the likelihood of accidents.
“As such, the ministry is reviewing proposals to tighten vehicle performance standards and set usage limits for tour buses. In the future, operators may be required to replace their vehicles within five to ten years to ensure safety remains at the highest standard,” he said in a Facebook post today.
The forms of assistance being studied, he said, include tax incentives and bank guarantee facilities, as he understood the cost pressures faced by operators.
At the same time, he said that the government takes issues of contract breaches and non-compliance in the implementation of tourism packages seriously, as it not only affects tourists but also damages the country’s reputation.
“To safeguard consumer interests, operators may be required to provide bank guarantees as a protective measure. Those who violate regulations may have their licences revoked, be blacklisted, and barred from submitting new applications.
“Many tourists do not have frequent opportunities to travel. Therefore, we cannot allow any element of fraud or negligence to undermine their experience.
“Only through close cooperation between the government and industry players in upholding the principles of safety and integrity can Malaysia’s tourism industry grow sustainably and continue moving forward,” he said.
Meanwhile, speaking on his attendance at the memorandum of understanding (MoU) signing ceremony between local commercial vehicle brand CAM and the Malaysian Inbound Tourism Association (Mita) on Thursday (Feb 26), he expressed hope that CAM will continue introducing new technologies and setting higher standards to elevate the nation’s tourism industry.
“Upon arrival at the venue, I saw several minibuses and upgraded modern tourism vehicles. This development is highly encouraging.
“The tourism industry is indeed a key contributor to the national economy. However, success cannot be measured solely by growth figures. Tourist safety must always remain a top priority,” he said. — DayakDaily
