Safety backlog (Updated)

KUALA LUMPUR: The Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) has conducted safety compliance audits on only about a quarter of the total 200 express bus operators in the country, said its chairman Tan Sri Syed Hamid Albar.
However, he stressed this low figure should not be linked to the recent spate of fatal bus accidents as other factors such as speeding and drivers' fatigue should be taken into consideration.
Syed Hamid pointed out that of the 52 operators audited since January 2014, 28 have had their operator's licence suspended, while six vehicles were served with suspension notices for various offences.
"This shows not only did we conduct training for operators and drivers, but we also took action.
"The 25% of 200 bus operators audited nationwide is actually not bad. Some operators were suspended for seven days, some 14. Also, warning letters were issued on two occasions for multiple reasons," he told a press conference at the SPAD headquarters here today. He did not elaborate on the reasons for the suspensions.
Syed Hamid said SPAD intends to complete its auditing of all 200 operators by next year.
He was speaking in defence of SPAD amid public criticism that the commission only acted and introduced new regulations and safety measures in the event of a fatal bus accident, such as the one in Pagoh on Dec 24 that killed 14 passengers.
"You have to understand that humans act based on experience. When certain things happen, we become wiser. What we can anticipate, we put into place. But we cannot anticipate everything.
"Previously, when there were no incidents, we thought everything was okay. But when it happens, of course we will introduce measures," he said.
Syed Hamid also responded to queries on why certain safety measures on express buses were only introduced following an accident, such as the Genting Highlands bus crash in 2013 that killed 37 passengers.
The crash prompted SPAD to introduce various new regulations for buses travelling on highlands, including the banning of double-deckers, introduction of secondary breaking systems, and no-standing capacities.
Syed Hamid said he was also disappointed the public blame only SPAD in cases of bus accidents, explaining that not all enforcement come under its jurisdiction.
He stressed there was a need to fine-tune the jurisdiction of all the relevant agencies, including the police and Road Transport Department, to ensure better enforcement.
"We have recommended that anything that has to do with public vehicles has to come under us. I'm not blaming anybody, but some fine-tuning needs to be done.
"Sometimes, the difficulty arises when people do not know the provisions of the law for different agencies. Then, we get caught in the middle," he said, adding that there is a need for improvement among all agencies.