SPAD wants speed limiters too

Tan Sri Syed Hamid Albar. - File pix

KUALA LUMPUR: The proposal to immediately install speed li­miters in express and intercity buses has received the backing of the Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD).

Its chairman Tan Sri Syed Hamid Albar said the authorities had been talking about implementing speed limiters for more than a decade.

“Maybe it is now time for the law to be implemented,” he told reporters at the SPAD’s office in the TBS Terminal here yesterday.

“The proposal by the Transport Minister is a good one as it is aimed at better safety for passengers,” he said.

On Thursday, Transport Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai had called for the immediate enforcement of speed limiters for express and intercity buses.

He had said that the ruling, which was not new, should have already been implemented.

This came in the wake of the July 10 incident during which a runaway bus rammed into 10 cars on the downhill stretch near the North-South Expressway’s Menora Tunnel. No one was hurt.

Syed Hamid also clarified that the suspension of the bus company involved came into effect yesterday.

“There is due process and the letter issued was not for imme­diate suspension but for the notification of the process of suspension by SPAD,” he said in response to reports that the company was still selling bus tickets on Thursday.

Syed Hamid said customers who had purchased advance tickets with the company could seek a refund or take alternative buses which would be readied for them.

He also confirmed that SPAD had yet to finalise its 11-point transformation plan for the taxi industry to be tabled for the Cabinet’s approval.

“It is good that there is feedback from the public as it will allow us to consider all views. At the moment, we are still at the discussion stage,” he said.