SHAH ALAM — The owner of the lorry company involved in last month’s fatal crash with a Federal Reserve Unit (FRU) vehicle on Jalan Chikus–Sungai Lampam in Teluk Intan will be prosecuted, Transport Minister Anthony Loke has confirmed.
Speaking at a press conference after officiating the implementation of Speed Limitation Devices (SLD) for commercial vehicles at Scania (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, Loke said the Road Transport Department (JPJ) would take legal action against the company.
“Firstly, the operator’s licence has been revoked. Secondly, the company owner will be taken to court by JPJ,” he said, Bernama reported.
Loke added that the families of the victims may also pursue civil proceedings against the company to seek damages and compensation.
The tragic accident occurred at 8.54am on May 13, when an FRU lorry collided with a tipper lorry that had allegedly veered into the opposite lane. Nine FRU personnel were killed, while nine others were injured.
Separately, Loke said the proposal to return regulatory oversight of tourism transport—particularly tour buses—to the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC) remains subject to Cabinet approval.
He personally had no objections to the move, noting that the matter had been raised long before the recent fatal crash involving Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI) students.
“MOTAC had previously prepared and submitted a Cabinet memorandum to the Ministry of Transport (MOT), even before the recent UPSI tragedy,” he said.
“I want to stress that this is not a reactionary decision. I’ve informed the Tourism Minister, Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing, that I have no objection to handing back the authority—as long as MOTAC can ensure the safety of sightseeing buses. But ultimately, the decision rests with the Cabinet,” he added.
Last Wednesday, MOTAC issued a statement calling for regulatory powers over tourism transport to be returned to the ministry following the fatal crash in Gerik, Perak, which claimed the lives of 15 UPSI students.
The ministry described the incident as not only tragic but also symptomatic of deeper flaws in the current transport safety system.
Loke also urged the bus operators’ association to come forward with any evidence of permit leasing—a long-standing industry issue suspected to be linked to unsafe practices.
“If the association had shared such information earlier, the government could have acted more decisively, and perhaps even prevented the recent tragedy,” he said.
“Everyone talks about permit leasing, but where is the evidence? The association should have supported the MOT’s enforcement efforts. They could have blacklisted or publicly exposed the offending companies to help clean up the industry.”
In the early hours of Monday, 15 UPSI students were killed when the chartered bus they were travelling in overturned at KM53 of the East–West Highway (JRTB), near Tasik Banding, Gerik. — June 13, 2025