PETALING JAYA: Survivors of the Genting Highlands fatal bus crash have complained of multiple issues during their journey.
Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing, who visited the victims, said the tourists had to change buses three times during their six-day trip, indicating poor maintenance.
“We found that the inbound tour agency had sublet jobs to others.
“There were also complaints of no air-conditioning and unusual sounds. Some also questioned why there were no seatbelts,” he said after visiting eight victims who are being treated at Hospital Kuala Lumpur yesterday.
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Also present was China’s Ambassador to Malaysia Ouyang Yujing and other officials.
Promising a thorough investigation, Tiong warned that negligent tour agencies would have their licences revoked and emphasised the seriousness of the matter.
He said the ministry would also temporarily suspend the licence of the travel agency involved if initial investigations revealed the company failed to comply with regulations.
Tiong also said the establishment of a dedicated safety team for tourists under the ministry’s secretary-general office would be expedited.
“We want to ensure tourists come here and leave safely,” he said.
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Tiong extended apologies to the victims and their families for the incident, pledging to discuss tour bus regulations, maintenance and enforcement with the Transport Ministry and Road Transport Department (JPJ) tomorrow.
“There should be standard operating procedures for tour buses ferrying tourists.
“Part of the responsibility and enforcement on tour buses should be under our ministry. We will discuss this further with JPJ during the meeting,” he added.
Ouyang, meanwhile, said the victims’ condition were stable.
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“Once I was informed of the incident by Malaysia’s Transport Minister Anthony Loke, the embassy made immediate contact with the relevant ministries and agencies for constant updates,” he said.
Ouyang added that he also met with the hospital management earlier and the local tour agency.
“We also hope that the Malaysian tour agency will be prepared as more family members of the victims are expected to come. The agency has responded positively that they will cooperate and assist these visiting families,” he said.
The accident involved a total of 18 Chinese tourists, the bus driver, an assistant and a tour guide.
Five people have so far been discharged, while two are still warded in Temerloh, one in Bentong and eight in Kuala Lumpur.
It was previously reported that the 32-year-old bus driver did not have a driving licence and had 27 previous traffic summonses for various offences.
He has since been remanded to assist in the investigation.
Police said the two men who died at the scene were identified as Zhang Ping, 58, and Wang Shuhong, 49.
