KUALA LUMPUR, April 21 — The numerous accidents involving buses is feared will thwart the government’s efforts to encourage the use of public transport.
The Federation of Malaysian Consumers Associations (Fomca) communications director, Mohd Yusof Abdul Rahman said three accidents in the past week would erode the confidence of the public to use buses as their main mode of transport.
“Consumers want safe public transport services and the government and enforcement agencies must be (stricter) in implementing rules as it involves lives.
“With the festive seasons coming, we are worried that more accidents may occur to negligence and low safety level,” he told Bernama.
Yesterday, a tour bus ferrying passengers from Pulau Redang to Singapore skidded and plunged into a ravine, killing a tourist from Singapore, while another 39 passengers were injured.
He said Fomca suggested that the Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research review the suitability of double-decker buses for long distance travel.
He said there were reports that such buses were designed for short-distance travelling on town routes.
He said the tall structure of the bus was unstable when speeding and it easily toppled over also due to the low dividers on local roads.
On Saturday, an express bus with 28 passengers skidded at Km118 of the East Coast Expressway, injuring 10 people. On April 12, three including a couple were killed while 10 others were injured when a double-decker express bus skidded and overturned in Bentong, Pahang. — Bernama
