Editor’s Note: Transport Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook has instructed the Road Transport Department (JPJ) to thoroughly investigate the fatal accident where seven people perished last night (Dec 23), including five from a family of eight who were travelling in an MPV.
AN automotive enthusiast has mooted the idea of bringing back the now defunct “SPAD (the Land Public Transport Commission) back in full force” to combat the slew of fatal accidents on the Malaysian roads caused by the recklessness of heavy vehicle drivers.
Hezeri Samsuri (@HezeriSamsuri) who is the Careta Media managing editor justified that this is necessary in light of the incapability of the Transport Ministry or its agency, the Road Transport Department (JPJ) to tackle the menaces of heavy vehicle drivers who are endangering the lives of innocent road users.
انا لله وانا اليه راجعون
Kita tunggu aje respons ringkas Menteri dan solusi jangka masa pendek, kemudian satu tangkapan membuktikan ada tindakan dilakukan.
Next week, lori buat hal balik.
Betul la netizen cakap, kena tunggu jadik ke batang hidung sendiri, baru ada tindakan… pic.twitter.com/StW4D6Q1hK
— Hezeri Samsuri (@HezeriSamsuri) December 24, 2024
He was pointing to a loss of seven lives in a road accident sparked by a detached tyre from a lorry at Km 204 of the northbound North-South Expressway (PLUS) near Alor Gajah last night (Dec 23).
The 8.30pm incident caused a tragic multi-vehicle collision involving a tour bus, a trailer and a Toyota Estima MPV carrying eight family members.
The crash was believed to have happened when a dislodged tyre from a lorry which was heading towards the south, landed in the middle of the road.
This was when a tour bus with 27 passengers travelling in the same direction struck the tyre, following which its driver lost control of the wheel. The bus then skidded into the opposite lane before crashing into a car (Perodua Bezza), a lorry and the ill-fated MPV.
“We now await the Transport Minister’s brief response and short-term solution, then an arrest will prove that action has been taken,” lamented the former TopGear Malaysia chief editor and New Sunday Times’ motoring editor.
“Next week, the same lorry will return (on the road). It’s true what netizens said, you will only take action once a similar accident befalls you or your loved ones.”
For the record, SPAD was a Malaysian statutory body set up to regulate and enforce rules concerning land-based public (tour/express buses) and freight transport (ie lorries/trailers) from 2010 to 2018 in lieu of the Commercial Vehicle Licensing Board.
In 2018, SPAD was dissolved and re-branded as the Land Public Transport Agency (APAD) which was absorbed into the Transport Ministry (MOT). – Dec 24, 2024
Main image credit: GengKeselamatanNegara (@GengKNegara)
