PUTRAJAYA: The Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry (Motac) has issued inspection notices and show-cause letters to several business entities involved in the accident on the East-West Highway near Tasik Banding, Gerik, Perak, on Monday (June 9).
In a statement Friday, the ministry said the action was taken after its investigation under the Tourism Industry Act 1992 (Act 482) into the tragedy involving students of Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI).
"Motac will also work with the police, the Land Public Transport Agency and the Road Transport Department to complete the investigation within the provisions of the law so that appropriate punishment is imposed and the victims' families receive the appropriate protection.
"Further action will be taken after the investigation is completed," the ministry said.
The statement said the ministry also visited the victims and families involved in the incident that claimed 15 lives.
It stressed the ministry's commitment to ensuring that tourism activities in Malaysia are always carried out safely, ethically and beneficially for future generations.
The statement also expressed the ministry’s condolences to the families of the victims and prayed for the speedy recovery of all the injured victims.
In the incident on Monday, 15 UPSI students died when a chartered bus they were travelling in from Jertih, Terengganu to the main campus in Tanjung Malim, Perak overturned after being involved in a collision with a multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) on the highway in Gerik.
The accident also resulted in 33 individuals injured, including the bus driver and attendant as well as the driver and three passengers of the MPV. - Bernama
