The Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) has suspended Qistna Express Sdn Bhd’s Operator’s Licence for one month following the recent crash involving one of its buses on 10 July at KM265.8 of the North South Expressway near the Menora Tunnel.

The company boasts 26 operating licenses.

SPAD Chief Executive Officer Mohd Azharuddin Mat Sah said the action to suspend is due to non-compliance of mandatory safety requirements based on SPAD’s audit of the company’s fleet yesterday pending findings from the ongoing Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (MIROS) investigation into the crash.

SPAD reiterated that it views compliance of mandatory safety requirements by express buses seriously.

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“The Commission believes that the move to suspend Qistna Express will serve as a strict reminder to the industry to ensure that they adhere to the SPAD Industrial Code of Practice (ICOP) at all times as public safety is a foremost priority,” said SPAD in a statement today.

SPAD assures the public that the Commission will continue to work together with other law enforcement agencies such as Polis Diraja Malaysia and the RTD to ensure public transport companies operate only roadworthy vehicles and their drivers observe all traffic and road safety rules.

Perak traffic police chief Supt Wan Jamil Wan Chik on July 11 confirmed the bus driver boasts nine summonses for various traffic summonses from 2011 to 2015.

Wan Jamil also said that the driver, the bus company had also been issued with 63 summonses.

He also said that the express bus driver, who was arrested by the police yesterday, was tested negative for drugs.

Wan Jamil added that the police will apply for a remand order later today to detain the 51-year-old bus driver for further investigations.