IMITATION SPARE PARTS AMONG MAIN CAUSES OF ACCIDENTS INVOLVING EXPRESS BUSES - TWU

PETALING JAYA (Malaysia), Dec 28 (Bernama) -- The use of imitation spare
parts is among the main causes for increased road accidents involving express
buses, according to Transport Workers Union (TWU) secretary-general, Zainal
Rampak.

He said the use of imitation spare parts by bus companies was widespread as
it saved cost, besides being easily available.

"This has been happening for a long time but seldom reported to the relevant
authorities by those concerned, and now these authorities like the Land Public
Transport Commission Malaysia need to give serious attention to this issue," he
told reporters at the TWU office, here, Tuesday.

Zainal said among the imitation spare parts widely used by bus companis were
brake discs which were sometimes reused, while some spare parts used were not
suitable for the bus models.

"The imitation brake discs, if pressed many times while descending a sloping
road, will get heated up and become soft and dysfunctional, hence 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.

"When such buses ascend or descend a sloping road, balance is compromised
especially when the buses are full of passengers and this will endanger their
lives.

"It is better for such buses to be used in the city or town areas as the
land is flatter," he said.

On Dec 26, a double-decker express bus was involved in an accident at Km363
of the new Raub-Bentong road in which six passengers were injured, and on Dec
20, 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