TRANSIT notes that the Secretary-General of the Transport Workers’ Union, Zainal Rampak, has gone on record saying that fake parts are one of the causes of the increased number of bus crashes.
Zainal Rampak: Fake parts main cause of crashes (The Star)
29 December 2010PETALING JAYA: The use of imitation spare parts is among the main causes of road accidents involving express buses, Transport Workers Union (TWU) secretary-general Datuk Zainal Rampak said.
He said the use of imitation spare parts by bus companies was widespread as it was cheap, besides being easily available.
“This has been happening for a long time but seldom reported to the relevant authorities by those concerned.
“These authorities, including the Land Public Transport Commission need to give serious attention to this issue,” he told reporters at the TWU office here yesterday.
Zainal said the imitation spare parts widely used by bus companies included brake discs, while some spare parts were not suitable for the bus models.
“The imitation brake discs, if used many times while descending a sloping road, will easily get heated up and become soft and not functional.
“They are dangerous during emergencies and can result in accidents,” he said.
On the use of double-decker and high-decked buses, Zainal suggested that they be banned for long-distance travelling because of the country’s hilly terrain.
He said when such buses used a sloping road, balance was compromised, especially when they were carrying a full load.
“They are only suitable to be used in the city or town areas where the land is flatter,” he said.
On Dec 26, a high-decked bus was involved in an accident at the 363rd km of the new Raub-Bentong road, injuring six passengers.
Six days earlier, a high-decked tour bus was involved in a horrific accident at KM15 of the Cameron Highlands-Simpang Pulai road, killing 28 people, mostly Thai tourists. – Bernama
Ashfar Ali of the Pan Malaysian Bus Operators’ Association responded with a call for Zainal to show evidence to back up his claims.
Show evidence of fake parts, bus operators tell union (The Star) 30 December 2010
KUALA LUMPUR: The Transport Workers Union should back their claims with proof that some bus companies are using imitation spare parts on their buses.
Until now, there had been no evidence to prove that the use of imitation parts was among the causes of increased road accidents involving express buses, said Pan Malaysia Bus Operators Association (PMBOA) president Datuk Ashfar Ali.
Ashfar was commenting on a statement by union secretary-general Datuk Zainal Rampak that the use of imitation spare parts by bus companies was widespread as they were cheap and easily available.
He said if there were bus companies which used imitation parts on their vehicles, then action should be taken as it involved the safety of passengers and other road users.
Road Safety Department director-general Datuk Suret Singh said bus and commercial transport companies which used imitation parts should have their permits suspended.
Suret said regular inspections by the authorities concerned were important to ensure the operators only used genuine spare parts.
Peninsular Malaysia Road Transport Officers Union president Hamzah Masri said the use of spare parts without the SIRIM stamp of approval could be a cause of accidents.
He said there should be monitoring of outlets selling imitation spare parts and that the Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Ministry should be more vigilant on this matter.
Land Public Transport Commission chairman Tan Sri Syed Hamid Albar said bus operators should ensure that spare parts used were compatible and safe.
“The safety of the service users cannot be compromised,” he said after opening the Sri Rampai LRT station here yesterday. — Bernama
TRANSIT Says:
As we promised – both sides that are at the heart of the dispute will be made to fight each other (to the death if necessary) while the people in the government who are really responsible for these crashes (through the total lack of enforcement and improper regulation of the industry) will sit by the sidelines, cheering the competitors on.
The end result will probably be as it always was – lots of noise, accusations & denials, but no action or improvements.
Eventually the issue will be forgotten and the story will die a normal death … after all, New Year’s is coming soon.
Transit Malaysia 