UPSI bus crash has dented confidence in tourism sector, says ministry
PETALING JAYA : Monday's bus crash which saw 15 university students lose their lives has sparked international concern and dented confidence in the country's tourism sector, the tourism, arts and culture ministry said.
In a statement, the ministry said the accident raised serious questions about the country's image as a safe tourist destination, especially with Visit Malaysia Year 2026 (VMY2026) less than a year away.
'Stakeholders involved in tourism and student exchange programmes from Asean, the Middle East, China, Japan and Korea have expressed doubts to the ministry about Malaysia's ability to ensure transport safety,' it said.
'Due to current uncertainty over transport safety, many institutions and international partners are reviewing their plans.
'If we cannot guarantee transport safety, it won't just impact educational exchanges -Malaysia's standing as a regional tourism hub will also be at stake.'
Return regulatory powers to us, says ministry
Stating that the crash was not an isolated incident, the ministry said a major cause of repeated incidents was the fragmented regulatory framework for tourist transportation, which hindered meaningful reform.
It noted that while it once held nationwide oversight powers over tourist transportation under the Tourism Vehicle Licensing Act 1999 (Act 594), these powers were transferred to the Land Public Transport Agency (Apad), with the ministry only retaining jurisdiction in Labuan, Sabah and Sarawak.
It said that since this shift, there had been no comprehensive framework that incorporated tourism-specific needs, safety requirements for travellers, or international standards, creating a 'regulatory void'.
'The ministry, therefore, strongly urges that all previously held regulatory powers be fully returned to the ministry. Tourist transport is more than just mobility – it forms the first impression of Malaysia and reflects our tourism image.
'Building a safety framework that meets the expectations of international travellers and industry stakeholders is our duty. Without this, recurring safety issues will jeopardise national efforts,' it said.
The accident involved a chartered bus carrying Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI) students, who had celebrated their Aidiladha holiday in Jertih, Terengganu, back to their campus in Tanjung Malim, Perak.
The bus overturned at Km53 of the East-West Highway near Tasik Banding, Gerik, killing 15 students. The crash also left 33 others injured, including the bus driver, his assistant and three passengers of a car involved in the collision.
At a press conference today, transport minister Loke Siew Fook said his ministry had revoked the permit of the bus operator involved in the crash.
He said a preliminary investigation found that the operator had breached several key conditions, including illegally leasing its permit to a third party, and failing to activate the vehicle's GPS tracking system.
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