Tourists in Malaysia urged to wear seat belts on buses following change in law

PETALING JAYA – Many foreign tourists remain unaware that wearing seat belts on buses is mandatory in Malaysia, said the Malaysian Tourism Federation.

Its president, Dr Sri Ganesh Michiel, said the lack of awareness – along with differing safety standards in their home countries – contributes to low compliance among foreign passengers.

“In some places, seat belt use on buses is not strictly enforced, so they may not realise it is required here. The absence of clear signage or reminders onboard is also another reason,” he said.

Some tourists have expressed confusion about the rules, particularly during short-distance trips, he added.

When it comes to ensuring passengers wear seat belts, Dr Sri Ganesh said the responsibility should be shared between bus drivers and tour guides.

“They are best positioned to conduct safety briefings and remind passengers to buckle up before each journey,” he said.

“Formalising the practice as part of the standard operating procedure would promote consistency.”

While many reputable and licensed tour operators ensure their buses are equipped with functioning seatbelts, there are inconsistencies – especially among smaller operators or older fleets, he said.

“There’s room for improvement in terms of vehicle maintenance and regulatory compliance,” he said.

“Industry groups, together with the Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry, are actively providing guidance and encouraging members to prioritise passenger safety.”

Mr Mohamad Ashfar Ali, president of Pan Malaysian Bus Operators Association, said its members remind passengers each time they are seated and just before the trip begins.

“They will make an announcement reminding passengers to buckle up,” he said.

“Once all passengers are accounted for, the driver will conduct a sweep of passengers to ensure everyone is wearing their seat belts.”

He added that this procedure is repeated after rest stops during long journeys.

“Our members have also been advised to place reminders in their buses,” he said.

But Mr Ashfar said bus drivers and operators should not be held liable if passengers are caught flouting the rules.

“We would have done our part with reminders placed around the bus,” he said.

Since July 1, the Road Transport Department has enforced the mandatory installation and use of seat belts on all express and tour buses.

Following this, the department had issued 1,194 summonses nationwide to bus passengers and drivers under the special seat belt enforcement operation. THE STAR/ ASIA NEWS NETWORK