KUALA LUMPUR: The Commercial Vehicle Licensing Board (CVLB) has revoked the express and chartered bus licences of two companies whose buses were involved in two fatal accidents last month.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Nazri Abdul Aziz said all 11 express bus licences of Syarikat Kuala Lumpur-Malacca Express Sdn Bhd, and all 99 chartered bus licences of Syarikat Taipan Suria (MM2H) Sdn Bhd have been revoked with immediate effect.

Syarikat Taipan Suria’s approval offer letter for chartered bus had also been revoked, he said.

“I strongly warn all commercial vehicle operators against being lackadaisical and irresponsible on the safety of public transport users and road users.

“I won’t hesitate to take strict action such as suspending and revoking licences of errant operators,” he told reporters at Parliament lobby.

Nazri said the action against Syarikat Kuala Lumpur-Malacca Express was taken following the accident in Negri Sembilan on Oct 10 which left 13 people dead.

He said the company had contravened the Motor Vehicle Rules (Commercial Transportation) 1959 and the Commercial Vehicles Licensing Board Act 1987.

Some of the offences included failure to notify the CVLB on changes to the company’s operational address, failure to get CVLB approval on changes to the company’s equity and contravening licence conditions, including the management of company, and those of the vehicle, driver and journeys.

On Syarikat Taipan Suria, Nazri said the action taken on the company was in connection with the accident on Oct 29 on the Karak Highway, where seven people lost their lives.

Nazri said the company also admitted that the bus involved in the crash was operated by a third party.

CVLB director Datin Naimah Ramli said the companies have 30 days to submit their appeals.

Deputy Federal traffic chief ACP Mohd Puad Abd Latiff said the Syarikat Taipan Suria driver was under detention. “He fractured his leg, and we will wait for him to recover from the trauma before taking further action,” he said.

The Syarikat Kuala Lumpur-Malacca Express driver died in the crash.

Source: http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/11/9/nation/20101109140538&sec=nation

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