Transport minister says express bus company will be suspended for breaching safety rules in fatal electrocution case

PUTRAJAYA, Nov 7 — The express bus company linked to the electrocution incident in Penang has failed an Occupational Safety and Health Industry Code of Practice for Road Transport Activities 2010 (ICOP) inspection conducted by the Road Transport Department (JPJ).

Transport Minister Anthony Loke said the company now faces the suspension of its operating license following the result of the inspection carried out yesterday.

“The ICOP audit was done and in fact they (the company) failed. Since APAD has the authority to suspend permits, JPJ will refer the matter to the Land Public Transport Authority (APAD).

“APAD will issue a case letter against them for a certain period of time and they can appeal to the Ministry during this period,” he told reporters after attending the Cahaya Kasih MADANI program and monthly meeting of the Ministry of Transport (MOT) here today. .

Loke also denied false accusations that he abused his authority by immediately suspending the operation of the bus involved in the incident that led to the death of a young boy.

“First of all, he didn’t do his homework and the information he gave is wrong. “I did not state the company’s permission, but only that the bus operation was stopped,” he said.

On 6 November, MCA Youth vice president Mike Chong Yew Chuan was reported to have said that the minister’s decision to instruct APAD to immediately suspend the bus company’s operations was a hasty decision made without understanding the real reason for the incident.

Loke stated that following the incident on November 1, the ministry formed a special task force and instructed APAD to immediately suspend the operation of the bus involved in the incident so that JPJ could conduct further investigation.

“All our actions are based on legal provisions and we will fully comply with existing processes and procedures.

“No one is victimized, the important thing is to ensure public safety,” he said. — Bernama