Driver Of Ill-fated Bus Had No Driving Licence: Is JPJ sleeping on the job?!

October 30, 2010 16:58 PM

JPJ Confirms Driver Of Ill-fated Bus Had No Driving Licence

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 30 (Bernama) -- The driver who was driving the ill-fated bus which skidded and overturned at KM38 Genting Sempah last night, killing seven and injuring 39 others, did not have a driving licence.

Selangor Public Order and Traffic Chief Supt Che Husin Omar said the Road Transport Department (JPJ) had confirmed that the driver did not have a valid driving licence.

"The driver had initially admitted to police that he had a driving licence but when JPJ conducted a search, it was found that he did not have one," he told Bernama when contacted here Saturday.

Che Husin said the driver who suffered a broken right leg and currently receiving treatment at the Kuala Lumpur Hospital was detained for further investigations.

"He will be investigated under Section 41 of the Road Transport Act 1987, for reckless driving and causing death," he said.

Che Husin said police inspect the black box and also investigate whether the driver had any past record for traffic offences or driving without a licence.

The ill-fated bus with 44 youths aged between 14 and 25 from several villages in Baling, Kedah, was on an educational trip and had left Kedah at 11pm Thursday and arrived in Genting Highlands at 8am Friday.

At 7pm Friday, the entourage left Genting Highlands for Kampung Melayu Subang to participate in a homestay programme but was involved in the accident.

During the accident, seven people were killed, 17 seriously injured while 22 others escaped with minor injuries, including the two bus drivers.

Meanwhile, Road Safety Department director-general Datuk Suret Singh said the department and the Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (Miros) would carry out an investigation.

"The investigations results will be completed in two to three weeks and the report submitted to the cabinet before end November," he told reporters after launching a road safety campaign and exhibition called "Malaysia Unite For Road Safety" at the USJ Elite overhead restaurant here.

-- BERNAMA

Investigation, investigation, investigation!

How many more lives must die before all these illegal and irresponsible bus drivers are rooted out?!