MATTA: Rethink road crash rulings
KUALA LUMPUR: A recent Transport Ministry directive over the suspension of vocational licences of commercial vehicle drivers involved in road accidents has raised the concern of Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA).
Its president Nigel Wong said the ruling will affect tour bus drivers and lead to complications involving labour laws such as the employment of drivers and the continuation of their salaries.
He also expressed concern over a circular issued by the Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry (Motac) that travel agents will be required to submit a report within 24 hours of an accident.
Their operating licences will be revoked if they fail to do so.
Wong said the recent spate of accidents of both licensed and unlicensed buses and whether or not the vehicles carried tourists had left an impression that all the cases involved tour buses.
'Investigations should be conducted first before deciding where the burden of fault lies.
'There could be many factors that may cause an accident, including those unrelated to the vehicle or its driver, such as road conditions,' he said at a press conference here yesterday.
'We stand behind the government in ensuring a safe tourism and transportation ecosystem, and emphasis on the quality of drivers and road safety.
'However, when such accidents occur, there should not be any knee-jerk reactions. There is a rule of law and a process to be followed. A 24-hour time frame to submit a report is not reasonable.
'The industry needs support and understanding while we try to better ourselves rather than being imposed with additional regulations.
'There should be a holistic approach by improving processes as a whole for the tourism industry,' said Wong.
He urged the relevant agencies to hold discussions and cooperate with industry players to iron out the grey areas and lack of clarity in the rulings, which has left tourism businesses in a quandary.
Meanwhile, MATTA vice-president of land transportation Subramaniam Kandasamy said the government should reconsider the rulings on one-day submission of reports and the suspension of driving licences.
'Because of the fault of one driver, shutting down a whole company will affect the livelihood of other staff and their families.
'As for the suspension of licences, does the company continue paying a driver because a report can be lodged with the Labour Department if he does not get paid? These are the ripple effects that may arise from such rulings,' Subramaniam said.
He urged the government to engage industry players for a solution that benefits all parties.
Separately, Wong commended the Transport Ministry over new laws that forbid taxi touts from carrying out their activities at Malaysian airports, including KL International Airport.
He said the move is timely and a stern message to illegal taxi operators.
On July 6, Road Transport Department (JPJ) director-general Datuk Aedy Fadly Ramli said vocational licences of commercial vehicle drivers involved in crashes will be suspended until investigations are completed.
They comprise the Public Service Vehicle licence for passenger vehicles and Goods Driving Licence for goods vehicles.
In a circular issued by Motac last month, travel operating business and travel agency business permit holders are required to submit a report with the ministry on any road accident involving their tour vehicles within 24 hours of the incident.
The ministry said failure to comply with the ruling may result in the revocation of the permit without notice.
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