4PAM: One-month suspension for bus operator a joke

Public transport users group says the punishment meted out by SPAD is a mere rap on the knuckles and will only encourage bus operators to violate the law.

PETALING JAYA: A month-long suspension of an express bus operator’s licence after one of its buses rammed into 10 cars recently is a joke, the Public Transport Users Association (4PAM) said.

4PAM President Ajit Johl, in a statement, said that the Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) should have also fined the operator.

“This is literally an encouragement for bus operators to keep violating the system, and the punishment is a slap on the wrist. What is the purpose of having a regulator who can’t seem to regulate?”

For this reason, Ajit said SPAD CEO Mohd Azharuddin Mat Sah and its chairman, Syed Hamid Albar, should resign.

Ajit was commenting on a news report that SPAD was initiating steps to suspend Qistna Express’ licence after the incident last Sunday.

He said that when companies flouted the law, the licence should be revoked immediately, the directors held accountable and the company should be prohibited from operating.

“These are the kinds of actions that will send a message to operators who flout the law.”

He also called for SPAD to be put under the Transport Ministry’s purview, explaining that issues on public transport required a full-time ministry instead of a single minister.

Last week, two people were injured when an out-of-control bus rammed into 10 cars on the PLUS highway, after passing the Menora Tunnel, near Ipoh.

It was later revealed that there were 63 outstanding summonses for the bus involved in the crash, while the driver had nine.