The Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA) has expressed deep concern following a string of recent tour bus accidents and the resulting proposals for amendments to land transport regulations and the Tourism Industry Act 1992.
In June, a privately-chartered tour bus carrying 42 students from Sultan Idris Education University overturned after colliding with an MPV on the East–West Highway near Gerik, Perak. The incident resulted in 15 fatalities and 33 injuries. The bus driver has since been charged with 15 counts of dangerous driving and one count of reckless driving, to which he pleaded not guilty.
Just weeks later, in July, another serious accident occurred near Ayer Hitam in Johor, where a tour bus collided with a truck and a tanker lorry. Two Indonesian passengers died on the scene, while 16 others, including the driver, were hospitalised. A further 28 passengers were unharmed. Investigations into both incidents are ongoing.
In response, the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC) has called for tighter regulatory oversight, including a requirement for 24-hour incident reporting on tour vehicles. While MATTA acknowledges the importance of swift accountability, it raised concerns about the practicality of these measures.
The association is also seeking clarification from the Road Transport Department (JPJ) on the scope of its policy to suspend drivers involved in accidents. MATTA questions whether the policy applies solely to fatal incidents or extends to all cases, including minor ones.
“Some travel agencies manage full-scale travel operations, not just transportation,” said MATTA president Nigel Wong. “To propose revoking an entire tourism licence due to a transportation-related issue, especially when the fault lies with a third-party driver or the vehicle provider, is neither proportionate nor constructive.”
He added that reforms “must be fair, targeted, and considerate of operational realities.”
While MATTA supports the government’s efforts to modernise the Tourism Industry Act, Wong stressed that proposed reforms must be “practical, inclusive, and aligned with the realities faced by industry players on the ground.”
To gather feedback, MATTA has begun a series of Townhall Sessions across Malaysia, with meetings already held in Johor and Kuala Lumpur, and upcoming sessions scheduled in Sabah, Penang and Terengganu.