SHAH ALAM – The recent fatal bus crash involving 15 Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI) students is more than just a national tragedy, it is a warning of systemic failures in Malaysia's transport safety governance, says anti-graft movement Rasuah Busters.
In a statement, the group extended its condolences to the victims' families but stressed that the incident must not be viewed solely as a matter of fate.
"While destiny is undeniable, it must not be used as an excuse for a system marred by negligence and weakened by human greed.
"This tragedy signals that our national transport safety system is in critical condition,” Rasuah Busters Chief Executive Officer Nurhayati Nordin said.
She highlighted structural issues such as poor oversight, weak enforcement, questionable contract awards and dangerous driving behaviour as underlying factors that continue to put road users at risk.
"These are systemic failures that can be avoided or mitigated through comprehensive reform and a shared commitment to accountability," she said.
The group called for the establishment of a post-tragedy safety audit body that would conduct holistic reviews of transport incidents beyond mere investigation, focusing on correcting systemic flaws.
They also proposed revisiting driver training modules and leveraging technology to monitor and prevent dangerous driving, especially for commercial vehicles.
Drawing from international models, Rasuah Busters suggested Malaysia consider implementing a system similar to the United Kingdom’s Operator Compliance Risk Score (OCRS), which publicly rates transport companies based on compliance.
"This would allow the public to assess operators’ safety standards transparently and push for higher accountability," she added.
Rasuah Busters also urged authorities to investigate any unlawful approvals or contracts that continue to allow certain operators to function despite red flags.
"We must stop being victims of a broken system. The time has come for Malaysians to speak up and report internal misconduct or warning signs that could lead to further loss of life.
"This is not just a tragedy. It’s a warning," she said.
In yesterday's accident, preliminary police investigations have found that the crash occurred when the students’ bus collided with the rear end of a Perodua Alza multi-purpose vehicle, causing the bus to overturn.
The bus was carrying 42 students from the East Coast, all aged between 21 and 23. The Kedah registered bus had been chartered by the students and departed from Jertih at 9 pm last Sunday to their campus in Tanjung Malim, Perak.
The accident occurred at KM53 of the East-West Highway, near Tasik Banding in Gerik.