GEORGE TOWN, Oct 27 — The transport minister must propose for a Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) to be set up over a fatal accident between two factory buses that killed eight factory workers, DAP’s Lim Guan Eng said today.

The Penang chief minister said Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai should propose the suggestion in the next Cabinet meeting, after the latter did not respond to his own RCI proposal yesterday.

"An independent investigation should be held on the accident as eight women workers were killed, including one Malaysian, and more than 30 others injured in the incident,” he told reporters at a press conference this morning.

"The minister has not responded to my suggestion and I hope he will look into this seriously as lives were lost,” Lim added.

He said the RCI does not aim to make people lose their jobs, but to ensure justice for the victims.

"Although only one Malaysian died and the rest are foreigners, they have families too and they deserve a RCI to look into the incident,” he said.

In the 6am tragic accident on Tuesday, a factory bus broke down and was by the roadside near the Juru toll plaza when another factory bus rammed into it.

Eight factory workers died, including Malaysian Noriah Kasa, while 44 others were injured in the incident.

The police have arrested two bus drivers, aged 23 and 37, to assist in investigations into the accident.

Both drivers were remanded until today and the police are investigating the case under Section 41(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987 for causing death by reckless or dangerous driving.

The Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) has also suspended the vehicle permits of the bus operators of the buses involved in the incident.

SPAD will be investigating both operators, KJJ Maju Enterprise and Icon Tours Sdn Bhd, under the Industrial Code of Practice and action can be taken against them under the Land Public Transport Act 2010.