PUTRAJAYA: The company operating the lorry involved in the crash which killed nine policemen earlier this week is also being investigated under the Road Transport Act, says Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
The Deputy Prime Minister said the probe is being carried out by the Transport Ministry, Puspakom and Road Transport Department (JPJ) after a public outcry that the company be held responsible.
Ahmad Zahid, who chairs the Cabinet Committee on Road Safety and Congestion, said current laws are sufficient to hold companies accountable for accidents caused by their malfunctioning vehicles.
“The driver has been remanded for four days as part of the police and JPJ investigation. But for the lorry owner, the investigation will be carried out by Puspakom under the Road Transport Act.
“We will leave it to the Transport Ministry and JPJ as the public feels that the lorry owner and company must be investigated and held responsible,” he said after an event in honour of high performing officers of the Rural and Regional Development Ministry here yesterday.
Ahmad Zahid, who is also Rural and Regional Development Minister, said although current laws are good enough to investigate vehicle owners and companies, they must be better enforced.
On May 13, the lorry carrying gravel collided with a truck carrying 18 members of the Federal Reserve Unit (FRU) travelling from Teluk Intan to Ipoh. The crash killed nine of them and seriously injured the rest.
Several hours after the morning incident, Ahmad Zahid revealed that initial investigations found that the lorry’s steering system had failed, causing it to ram into the police vehicle.
The lorry driver has been remanded for four days to facilitate police investigation.
