The Minister of Transport, Dato’ Sri Ong Tee Keat who is overseas now was alerted this morning to a tragic accident which claimed 10 lives along the North-South Expressway near Ipoh. The Minister has expressed sadness over the unnecessary loss of lives and the injuries sustained by those on board the ill-fated bus. He has also extended his condolences go to the families who lost their loved ones in the tragedy.

Officials from the Road Transport Department, the Road Safety Department and the Malaysian Institute of Road Safety (MIROS) have rushed to the scene upon receiving news of the accident. The Minister has directed these departments to keep him posted on their latest findings. The Minister wants nothing short of a thorough investigation into the accident.

The Road Safety Department has also immediately recommended to the Commercial Vehicle Licensing Board (which falls under the Prime Minister’s Department) that the entire fleet of buses from the company involved in the bus accident be suspended, pending an investigation. The Department has also recommended the setting up of an inquiry body to be headed by the CVLB chairwoman. These are in line with the standard procedures whenever major road accidents take place.

As road safety is an area that falls under various agencies, the Ministry of Transport will work closely with other Ministries and departments to look into the deadly crash which took place early this morning. More importantly, this trans-agencies collaboration will continue to find ways to bring down road accident rates in the country.

The Minister of Transport, who is also MCA president, has also directed Perak MCA to render any immediate assistance required by the victims.

26 December 2009