By Shikin Louis
KUCHING, June 12: Sarawak Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah has welcomed the Federal Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture’s (MOTAC) intention to take over control of tour-related buses—provided the move leads to better enforcement, safer roads, and a more reliable transport system.
Commenting on the proposal, Abdul Karim said recent revelations surrounding the express bus involved in the tragic Gerik-Jeli Highway accident—where the vehicle had 21 traffic summonses and its driver had 18—highlighted a serious flaw in the current enforcement mechanism.
“If that intention, and if it becomes a reality, can improve the roads and the transport system that we are having now, of course I would welcome it.
“And I think it’s not just me—all Malaysians will welcome it,” he told reporters during a press conference at Baitul Makmur 2 building here today.
He emphasised that passenger safety must remain the top priority and pointed out that the large number of outstanding offences indicated systemic weaknesses that need urgent attention.
“That means something is wrong. So if there are any entities—whether it’s the ministry or any other body—that can address this problem and make the system better, of course we will welcome it,” he added.
While acknowledging MOTAC’s intent, Abdul Karim stressed that implementation will be the true test, as regulating commercial and tour buses involves multiple agencies, including the Road Transport Department (JPJ) and other enforcement bodies.
“They came up with the idea, so they have to come up with the formula. I know it’s not easy, because it involves JPJ, enforcement, and a lot of other things.
“You can have all the laws in the world, but if you don’t enforce them properly, it still happens,” he emphasised.
The Gerik-Jeli crash on June 5, which claimed the lives of 15 Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI) students, exposed glaring lapses in oversight, prompting national debate over responsibility and regulation in the tour and express bus sectors.
On June 11, Federal Tourism Minister Dato Seri Tiong King Sing urged that MOTAC be given back authority to oversee tourism vehicles, citing concerns over transport safety and a lack of coordination among enforcement agencies. He argued that MOTAC’s original mandate had been diluted over the years, reducing its ability to ensure compliance and safety standards in the tourism transport sector. — DayakDaily
