24-hour accident reporting rule not realistic, says Matta

Malaysian Reserve

2 days ago

by AZALEA AZUAR
THE Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (Matta) has raised concerns over the Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry's (Motac) proposal in requiring agencies to file an accident report within 24 hours.
Failure to do so will result in their licences being forfeited.
The ministry's decision to come up with this proposal was followed by a spate of recent tragic incidents involving tour buses.
Matta president Nigel Wong acknowledged the importance of timely accountability and safety, but said it is not realistic.
'During our recent town hall sessions, members expressed that more time is needed for us to provide the information that is required by Motac and we would be happy to comply.
'We urge the authorities not to take punitive action immediately. Instead, investigations should be allowed and due process must be followed,' he said during a press conference today.
Additionally, Matta sought clarification from the Road Transport Department (JPJ) regarding its policy on suspending drivers involved in road accidents.
The association also wants to know whether the suspension applies only to fatal accidents or if it also includes minor incidents.
Wong warned that if a travel company's licence is revoked due to a single incident — before it is even clear who is at fault — it could have serious consequences. If such actions continue without proper checks, it could spread industry-wide and not only harm businesses but also Malaysia's tourism reputation.
'We also would like to call again for the ministries involved, not just Motac, but also the Transport Ministry (MOT) and other agencies to engage in more structured dialogue with the industry in order to find the pain points for the industry itself and to come to a solution which will both protect the interests of the industry, as well as tourists,' added Wong.
Moreover, Matta has started developing its own initiatives in response to the recent incidents which include a safety driving course and other training programmes which will be launched soon. It is also introducing a data collection programme to gather information on incidents reported by its members.
To address these concerns, Matta held a series of town hall sessions to engage directly with its members in Johor and Kuala Lumpur (KL), which will continue in Sabah, Penang and Terengganu.
On July 8, Motac announced that travel agencies with a Travel Operating Business and Travel (Tobtab) licence are required to file an accident report within 24 hours of the incident.
On July 7, JPJ decided to immediately suspend the vocational licence of commercial vehicle drivers involved in road accidents while police investigations are underway.
JPJ DG Aedy Fadly Ramli reportedly said that if a driver is found guilty or issued a notice for violating any part of the Road Transport Act 1987, their vocational licence will be revoked under Section 56(4)(b) of the same Act.
MOTAC recently urged for the return of its regulatory authority over tourism transport. This followed a tragic bus accident in Gerik, Perak, which claimed the lives of 15 Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI) students.
Meanwhile, two men were killed while 16 others were killed in a collision on July 3, which involved a tour bus and two lorries at 80.7km of the Southbound North-South Expressway (PLUS) near Ayer Hitam, Johor.