Bill to dissolve SPAD tabled in Dewan Rakyat

PARLIAMENT | The government has today tabled a bill at the Dewan Rakyat to dissolve the Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD), which will be absorbed into the Transport Ministry.

The Land Public Transport Commission (Dissolution) Bill 2018, is being tabled by Transport Minister Anthony Loke for the first reading at the august House.

Meanwhile, another bill, the Land Public Transport (Amendment) Bill 2018, the functions, powers, rights, duties, liabilities and obligations of the commission will be devolved to the director-general of Land Public Transport Commission (APAD) or the director-general of Road Transport Department, as the case may be.

Under the Land Public Transport (Amendment) Bill, the minister of transport will be given more power to make regulations on the relevant matters.

The minister may authorise any person to carry out the duty of the director-general of Land Public Transport Commission in respect of licensing matters.

This includes the licensing of terminals, operators of public service vehicle services, tourism vehicles, operators of goods vehicle services, operators of railway services and railways.

The director-general can deal with matters pertaining to payment or charges.

Both bills will be passed during the current sitting which ends on Aug 18.

The minister can regulate the following matters, after receiving recommendations from the commission:

1. the duties, conduct and conditions of service including hours of duty of drivers and conductors

2. the number of persons to be employed as drivers and conductors.

3. the obligation of licenses and licensed operators in respect of the disruption of service.

4. the conduct of passengers boarding and travelling on the public or passenger service vehicle.

[More to follow] -Mkini