THE government's decision to form the Malaysian Transport Safety Board (MTSB) has been hailed as a long-overdue but crucial step towards strengthening the nation’s transportation safety framework.
Alliance for a Safe Community chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye said the announcement by Transport Minister Anthony Loke was a positive development, but stressed that “immediate and decisive measures” must follow to ensure the board becomes operational without delay.
“For years, advocates and experts have stressed the critical need for an independent body to investigate and analyse transportation accidents across all modes – road, air and sea,” he said when contacted on Saturday.
He cited established models in countries such as Canada, Australia, the Netherlands and the United States, noting that their independent transportation safety boards have played vital roles in identifying systemic failures and improving safety standards.
“The safety of passengers, whether in marine, rail, air, pipeline or road transport, should never be compromised by bureaucratic delays or a lack of political will,” Lee stressed.
He called on the Transport Ministry to issue “a clear and definitive timeline” for the formation of the MTSB, including when it would be fully operational and staffed with qualified investigators.
“We need to know when this board will be fully operational, staffed with qualified experts, and empowered to conduct thorough and impartial investigations,” he said.
Lee warned that “every day of delay” in setting up the MTSB risked more lives, and urged the government to ensure the initiative did not lose momentum.
“It is time to prioritise transportation safety and ensure that lessons are learned from every accident to prevent future tragedies,” he added. - August 16, 2025
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