PETALING JAYA: Some 2,000 buses affiliated with the Pan Malaysian Bus Operators Association (PMBOA) are prepared to comply with the Transport Ministry’s new wiring regulations.
However, they are seeking clear guidelines on the compliance deadlines for both new and existing bus operators.
“We need to know when and where these inspections can be carried out and also the timeframe for it to be done,” said association president Datuk Ashfar Ali.
He also expressed confidence that the association’s 120 members will abide by the ministry’s requirement to temporarily halt the use of three-pin plugs and USB ports installed in buses.
“This is in the interest of passenger safety to prevent such incidents from occurring in the future.
“We will also adhere to having the electrical wiring on buses be thoroughly checked, certified and rectified by the relevant authorities,” he said.
Ashfar added that operators must either cover the cost of inspections if they installed the additional wiring themselves, or have the coachbuilders handle the expenses if they did the installation themselves.
“This will be decided by each bus operator,” he said.
Meanwhile, Peninsular Malaysia Tour Bus Operators president Steven Chong said tour buses are exempt from the new requirements, adding that they don’t offer charging facilities.
“The statement by the ministry states only those holding bus operating licences were affected.
“We are not holders of such licences as our licences are issued first by the Tourism Ministry before we can apply for a permit from the Land Public Transport Agency (Apad),” he said.
Bus operating licences, he added, were held by those operating express, stage, factory and school buses.
“The ministry has to be clear on this.
“If they want to implement the new requirements for us, the ministry has to go through the Tourism Ministry,” added Chong.
There are currently between 3,000 and 4,000 tour buses of varying capacity and size operating in the country.