THE Road Transport Department (JPJ) is set to introduce further enforcement measures against the express bus operator involved in the tragic crash last month that claimed 15 lives, all of them Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI) students.
Director-general Datuk Aedy Fadly Ramli confirmed that the move follows the release of initial findings from the Transport Ministry’s Special Task Force report.
“We are currently finalising the details, and have already taken action with the Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) by revoking the bus company’s permit. There will be several more measures to come,” he told reporters at the state-level 2025 MyLesen B2 presentation ceremony, which saw participation from 968 individuals.
He clarified that legal proceedings involving the driver are ongoing and remain under the jurisdiction of the police and judiciary.
“Meanwhile, action against the bus driver is currently being handled by the court, so JPJ is not interfering at this stage. If a fatal accident involves a driver, action will be taken by the police (PDRM) and the court,” Aedy Fadly said.
According to the preliminary task force findings, the bus was travelling at double the permitted speed limit, which was cited as a key cause of the accident. The report also pointed to wider systemic failings, including weaknesses in industry governance, regulatory compliance, and enforcement by both operators and relevant agencies.
Aedy Fadly stressed that the issue demands a broad, inter-agency response to reinforce the country’s road safety ecosystem.
“This is not solely the responsibility of JPJ or PDRM. A collective and coordinated approach is needed to ensure such tragedies do not repeat,” he said.
The fatal crash on 9 June involved a bus transporting 42 students from Jertih in Terengganu to Tanjung Malim, Perak. The vehicle veered off the East-West Highway near Tasik Banding in Gerik, making it one of the most devastating student transport accidents in recent years.
Separately, Aedy Fadly said the department has stepped up enforcement under a special operation targeting seat belt compliance in buses and goods vehicles. Since 1 July, 1,274 compound notices have been issued.
He said 1,000 notices were served to passengers for failing to wear seat belts, 262 to drivers, and 12 to express buses for not having seat belts installed. Among passengers, 878 notices were issued to those on express buses, 107 to those on tour buses, and 15 to passengers or drivers in goods vehicles.
For drivers, 33 notices were served to express bus drivers, 24 to tour bus drivers, and 205 to drivers of goods vehicles.
JPJ has reiterated its commitment to stricter oversight of commercial vehicle operators and the continued enforcement of road safety regulations to protect public lives. - July 19, 2025
