After a crash killed 15 UPSI students, Malaysia Transport Minister Anthony Loke plans stricter laws on heavy vehicle safety measures.
There Can Be No Compromise when It Comes to Human Lives – Anthony Loke
The Malaysian government has pledged to implement stricter road safety policies and enforcement measures following a bus crash that claimed the lives of 15 Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI) students on the East-West Highway near Tasik Banding.
Transport Minister Anthony Loke, in both an official statement and remarks to the media, expressed profound grief over the tragedy and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to addressing weakness in heavy vehicle safety regulations.
“Every life lost is a tremendous loss, not only to the families but also to the future of our nation. There can be no compromise when it comes to the safety of human lives,” he wrote on his official Facebook page.
The fatal accident involved a chartered bus travelling from Jertih, Terengganu to Tanjung Malim, Perak. The bus, built in 2013 and not equipped with seatbelts for passengers, overturned at KM53 of the East-West Highway on June 5, 2025.
According to Loke, in the wake of the accident, the Land Public Transport Agency (APAD) has issued a show-cause letter to the bus operator. Simultaneously, the Road Transport Department (JPJ) has initiated a Safety Inspection and Audit (JISA) on the vehicle and company under the Road Transport Act (Act 333) and the Land Public Transport Act (Act 715).
“Firm action will be taken once the investigation is completed,” wrote the minister.
Mandatory Speed Limiters and Seatbelt Enforcement
To address recurring safety failures, the Ministry of Transport will introduce several mandatory measures. These include requiring all heavy vehicles, including buses and lorries, to be equipped with speed limiters which will be constantly monitored to prevent tampering during or after inspections.
“We see that among the causes of (accidents) that often occur on this particular road are heavy vehicles, including lorries, buses and so on. They drive too fast, so there is now technology, namely speed limiters, devices installed in vehicles to prevent them from exceeding the speed limit,” Loke said to reporters on June 10, as reported by the Bernama News Agency.
“However, the challenge we face is that most of them are ‘tampered’, meaning they modify them during installation for inspection at the Computerised Vehicle Inspection Centre (Puspakom) but then they remove them afterwards, we want to ensure there is no ‘tampering’ of the speed limiters,” he added.
Seatbelts for bus passengers will also be made mandatory. Buses manufactured from 2020 onwards have already been equipped with passenger seatbelts. However, older buses like the one that crashed have not been equipped with seatbelts. Even so, Loke admitted that having seatbelts installed will not solve the problems immediately because ensuring compliance is not an easy feat.
“The challenge is to ensure compliance for passengers to wear seat belts, so we have to make compliance mandatory for passengers. In a car, if you do not wear a seat belt, it will emit a warning sound (beep) so we can make it mandatory for bus drivers to ensure that all passengers wear their seat belts or the bus will not move,” said Loke.
The MOT, Loke said, will also consider the possibility of installing on-board cameras on heavy vehicles. Though not yet mandatory, he noted that such technology could play a crucial role in raising safety standards.
“This tragedy must serve as a reminder to all parties—government, operators, and the public. The government will not relent in its efforts to strengthen road safety policies. We remain committed to protecting road users, especially from the dangers posed by irresponsible drivers and heavy vehicles that do not meet established safety standards,” Loke wrote.
Loke also extended his appreciation to the Ministry of Higher Education and the management of UPSI for their immediate efforts in assisting the victims’ families. “My prayers are with the victims and their loved ones during this incredibly difficult time,” he noted.
