Ministry of Tourism withdraws travel agency’s license after fatal bus accident in Genting until full investigation

KUALA LUMPUR, June 30 – The Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture has temporarily suspended the licence of a local travel agency involved in a bus accident in Genting Highlands, Pahang, that killed two tourists from China yesterday.

Minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing said the suspension was pending the completion of a full investigation report into the overturned bus, according to the news portal Malaysia Gazette reported today.

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“I have instructed the ministry to conduct a thorough investigation into the travel agency to determine whether it has subcontractors.

“I have also received complaints from affected bus passengers. They were here for six days and five nights and the bus was changed three times.”

“This situation proves that the buses were not properly maintained. They had no air conditioning and were noisy,” he was quoted as telling reporters after visiting the bus crash victims at Kuala Lumpur Hospital.

He said ministry officials had been instructed to submit a preliminary report on the bus accident, adding: “If there are findings of negligence, we will immediately revoke the company’s tour license.”

Here’s what we know so far:

• A coach with 21 passengers on board skidded, struck a guardrail at kilometer 16.5 on the road from Genting Highlands to Kuala Lumpur and came to rest on its side.

• The bus driver, assistant and tour guide are Malaysians; the remaining 18 were tourists from China

• Two Chinese nationals died: Zhang Ping, 58, and Wang Shuhong, 49

• Police said the 32-year-old driver was a serial offender with 27 citations, including for not having a driver’s license