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Driver in fatal express bus crash pleads not guilty
The driver of a Transnasional express bus which crashed on April 12, at Kilometer 11 of Jalan Bentong-Raub, Pahang, today pleaded not guilty to three charges of driving under the influence of drugs.
Wan Khairul Affendi Mustafa, 35, was driving the double decker bus carrying 68 passengers, and believed to have overtaken a few vehicles before the bus skidded at a corner, and crashed into an electric pole.
Three passengers, including a married couple, died and ten others were injured.
The deceased were identified as Suhaisam Che Abdulla, 33, his wife, Zarifah Alias, 26, and a Somalian, Mohamad Mohamud Abdalla, 31.
Meanwhile, the authorities will step up strict inspections on express and tour bus services following a recent spate of crashes involving these buses.
Deputy Transport Minister Datuk Ab Aziz Kaprawi says the ministry will launch random inspections on these buses at bus terminals and place enforcement patrols at accident-prone areas.
“The ministry will hold a meeting with all related agencies tomorrow to discuss further enforcement actions to be taken,” he said today.
The agencies, including the Road Transport Department, Land Public Transportation Commission (SPAD), will discuss further preventive actions to be taken.
Ab Aziz said action to prevent accidents involving express buses need to be hastened.
Three accidents involving buses had occured within the last week. The latest occurred last night when a tour bus ferrying passengers from Terengganu to Singapore fell into a ravine, killing one Singaporean.