PETALING JAYA: The requirement for tour operators to submit a report within 24 hours of an accident will remain unchanged, says Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing.
He said this measure would continue to be strictly enforced.
“Submitting a report within 24 hours is not an admission of guilt. Rather, it allows tour companies to provide accurate information,” added Tiong.
He said that this information includes the driver's background, health status prior to the incident, the inspection record of the tour bus, its latest technical condition and travel group member details.
Tiong said that all of this information – including the itinerary and travel routes before and after the incident – would help the authorities determine the cause of the accident.
He added that many tour-related accidents in the past have raised serious public concern, even leading to foreign governments issuing travel advisories against certain destinations in Malaysia.
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“We will not compromise under any form of pressure or complaint. We remain firmly committed to upholding the principle of safety first, to restore confidence in Malaysia’s tourism brand,” he said in a statement on Saturday (July 12).
This follows criticism of the ministry for this ruling.
In the circular issued by his ministry, travel agents are required to submit a report within 24 hours of an accident.
Failing to do so would result in their operating licences being revoked.
Tiong responded to critics by saying that this requirement will encourage proper screening during the hiring process and stricter implementation of safety measures.
“Let us not allow more tragedies to occur before we take concrete action to prevent them. We do not wish for similar incidents to occur to any of our loved ones,” he said.
