Cameron Highlands bus crash probe, six months to gather findings

Bus crash: Six months to come up with findings
15/Jan/2011

SERDANG: The independent inquiry board probing the double-decker bus crash in Cameron Highlands has six months to come out with its findings, which may have a nationwide impact.

Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) vice-chancellor Prof Datuk Dr Radin Umar Radin Sohadi, who is chairing the board, said the first two months would be spent investigating the technical and legal aspects of the Dec 20 crash, which left 28 people dead.

The next four months would be used for coming out with a structured report concerning all public transport and heavy vehicle operations in Malaysia.

"We will look into the national system as a whole to create a better and more sustainable system," he said at UPM here yesterday.

"We wish to highlight preventive action to the Cabinet through our report."

Prof Radin Umar said there were many aspects to review as the current standard operating procedures, involving licensing, driver appointment and fleet management, could be out of date.

He added that adherence to the safety, health and environment code of practice was a priority and the board would analyse additional information from departments like the Tourism Ministry, the Road Transport Department and Puspakom.

Prof Radin Umar, who holds a PhD in traffic safety engineering and a Masters in transport and traffic engineering, was Miros former director-general.

Four Months to Submit Report

SERDANG: The independent panel set up to investigate the country's worst bus accident held its first meeting here Friday.

The panel, which is chaired by Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) vice-chancellor Datuk Dr Radin Umar Radin Sohadi, has four months to come up with its findings.

The accident, which occurred on Dec 20, resulted in 26 Thai tourists and two Malaysians killed when a tour bus overturned at Km15 of the Cameron Highlands-Simpang Pulai Road as it was heading from the highlands to Kuala Lumpur.

Dr Radin Umar told reporters today the panel would identify weaknesses in the public bus transportation system and recommend changes if necessary.

"We will conduct the probe in terms of licensing, services and maintenance to ensure a comprehensive investigation," he said.

He said the first two months would be used to undertake a technical investigation and the next two to study the existing system of public bus transportation.

The panel members, besides Dr Radin Umar, are Institution of Engineers Malaysia president Datuk Prof Dr Chuah Hean Teik, Datuk Han Joke Kwang of the Road Engineering Association of Malaysia, Federation of Malaysian Consumers Associations of Malaysia (Fomca) president Datuk Marimuthu Nadason, mechanical engineering consultant of FCC Consulting Engineers Datuk Foong Choy Chye and Malaysia Institute of Transport director Assoc Prof Sabariah Mohamad.

All the members received their letters of appointment yesterday from the Ministry of Transport. -- Bernama

Radin to head independent panel probing bus crash
By Ng Cheng Yee
13/Jan/2011

PETALING JAYA: Universiti Putra Malaysia vice-chancellor Prof Datuk Dr Radin Umar Radin Sohadi will head an independent inquiry board investigating the high-decked bus crash in Cameron Highlands on Dec 20 last year which left 28 passengers dead.

In a statement yesterday, Transport Minister Datuk Seri Kong Cho Ha said the Cabinet had agreed on the appointment of Prof Radin, who has a PhD in traffic safety engineering and a Master's in transport and traffic engineering.

Prof Radin was also the former director-general of the Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (Miros). "We hope to come out with collective and preventive actions to be recommended to ensure such accidents do not occur in future," said Prof Radin.

He said the board will meet as soon as its members receive their appointment letters.

He said the inquiry board would look into all aspects of the accident before making recommendations to the Government.

"One of the main aspects would be crash worthiness and others like road condition, vehicle maintenance, safety and health and crash prevention," he said.

Other committee members are representatives from the Malaysian Institute of Transportation, Institute of Engineering Malaysia, Road Engineering Association of Malaysia, Federation of Malaysia Consumers Association (Fomca) and mechanical engineering consultant Datuk Foong Choy Chye.

Kong said the committee's terms of reference was to study or identify the cause of the accident and get statements from accident survivors, witnesses and rescue officers. -- The Star