KUALA LUMPUR: The government’s move to establish the Malaysian Transport Safety Board (MTSB) has been welcomed as a long-overdue step to strengthen transportation safety in the country.
Alliance for a Safe Community chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye said the announcement by Transport Minister Anthony Loke was encouraging, but stressed that immediate and decisive measures must be taken to ensure the body’s formation without further delay.
"For years, advocates and experts have stressed the critical need for an independent body to investigate and analyse transportation accidents across all modes- road, air and sea," he said when contacted on Saturday (Aug 16).
Many countries, including Canada, Australia, the Netherlands and the United States, have long had independent transportation safety boards that play a crucial role in enhancing safety by identifying systemic issues and promoting best practices, Lee said.
He stressed that the safety of passengers, whether in marine, rail, air, pipeline or road transport, should never be compromised by bureaucratic delays or a lack of political will.
"The Transport Ministry should provide a clear and definitive timeline for the establishment of the MTSB.
"We need to know when this board will be fully operational, staffed with qualified experts, and empowered to conduct thorough and impartial investigations,” he said.
Lee added that every day of delay in setting up the board potentially put lives at risk, and the public deserved assurance that the initiative would not suffer further setbacks.
"It is time to prioritise transportation safety and ensure that lessons are learned from every accident to prevent future tragedies,” he said.
