(Kuala Lumpur, 13th) Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Dato’ Seri Tiong King Sing emphasized that ensuring tourism safety is a top-priority matter concerning human lives, and the department will not make any compromises due to anyone’s pressure or complaints!
He pointed out that after multiple tour bus accident incidents in our country, there has been widespread concern, and some countries have even issued travel advisories for certain Malaysian attractions. Therefore, the department upholds the principle of prioritizing tourist safety in order to restore travelers' confidence in the Malaysian tourism brand.
Tiong was responding to the Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA), which had called the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture’s requirement for tour companies to submit accident reports within 24 hours—or risk having their licenses revoked—an extreme measure.
Tiong said that the department will continue to strictly enforce the relevant measures, and hopes that MATTA president Nigel Wong and its member operators are clearly aware that ensuring the safety of travelers is their most basic responsibility, and that safety measures must never be neglected for profit or convenience.
"Moreover, submitting a report does not imply the tour company is at fault, but rather is for tour companies to provide accurate information they hold, such as detailed background of the driver, the driver's health condition prior to the accident, the bus inspection records, the latest data on the bus’s performance, group member information, the itinerary and travel routes before and after the accident, etc., to assist the authorities in investigating the cause of the accident."
Tiong admitted that he was disappointed and saddened by what he described as the overreactions from the MATTA chairman and its members. "Would they rather Malaysia repeatedly suffer travel safety incidents, with no one held responsible, than fix these safety 'loopholes'?"
"On the contrary, when the department is determined to implement reforms, they are quick to nitpick, trying to indefinitely enlarge their 'comfort zone', lower costs and increase profit margins, yet show no real interest in enhancing travel safety?"
He hopes all tourism operators will reflect: how many tourism safety incidents have already happened in our country so far? In his two and a half years as Minister, how many tourists have lost their precious lives? What has MATTA done for the industry in this regard? Have they made any suggestions for improvement to their members?
"You should realize, tour company licenses are approved by the government, we are giving operators the opportunity to run a business, and now they point their guns back at the government?"
He still believes that this measure will help tour companies properly screen and filter staff at the hiring stage, and to strictly enforce safety measures—rather than using staffing shortages as an excuse to sacrifice travel safety standards. This is because in previous incidents involving tour buses and capsized boats, some drivers or boat operators involved were found to have drug-related records yet were still hired, or again in accidents such as the Pulau Perhentian capsizing incident, passengers were not wearing life jackets.
Tiong was responding to the Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA), which had called the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture’s requirement for tour companies to submit accident reports within 24 hours—or risk having their licenses revoked—an extreme measure.
Tiong said that the department will continue to strictly enforce the relevant measures, and hopes that MATTA president Nigel Wong and its member operators are clearly aware that ensuring the safety of travelers is their most basic responsibility, and that safety measures must never be neglected for profit or convenience.
"Moreover, submitting a report does not imply the tour company is at fault, but rather is for tour companies to provide accurate information they hold, such as detailed background of the driver, the driver's health condition prior to the accident, the bus inspection records, the latest data on the bus’s performance, group member information, the itinerary and travel routes before and after the accident, etc., to assist the authorities in investigating the cause of the accident."
Tiong admitted that he was disappointed and saddened by what he described as the overreactions from the MATTA chairman and its members. "Would they rather Malaysia repeatedly suffer travel safety incidents, with no one held responsible, than fix these safety 'loopholes'?"
"On the contrary, when the department is determined to implement reforms, they are quick to nitpick, trying to indefinitely enlarge their 'comfort zone', lower costs and increase profit margins, yet show no real interest in enhancing travel safety?"
He hopes all tourism operators will reflect: how many tourism safety incidents have already happened in our country so far? In his two and a half years as Minister, how many tourists have lost their precious lives? What has MATTA done for the industry in this regard? Have they made any suggestions for improvement to their members?
"You should realize, tour company licenses are approved by the government, we are giving operators the opportunity to run a business, and now they point their guns back at the government?"
He still believes that this measure will help tour companies properly screen and filter staff at the hiring stage, and to strictly enforce safety measures—rather than using staffing shortages as an excuse to sacrifice travel safety standards. This is because in previous incidents involving tour buses and capsized boats, some drivers or boat operators involved were found to have drug-related records yet were still hired, or again in accidents such as the Pulau Perhentian capsizing incident, passengers were not wearing life jackets.
"Just imagine, if a travel agency repeatedly has such accidents, and even during my official duties abroad, ministers from other countries have repeatedly expressed concern over Malaysia’s tourism safety standards—how can our tourism industry flourish? What will become of Malaysia’s economic development?"
Tiong urges the MATTA president and its members to think carefully before making any future statements—try to imagine if a similar incident happened to themselves or their families, how would they feel?
Tiong urges the MATTA president and its members to think carefully before making any future statements—try to imagine if a similar incident happened to themselves or their families, how would they feel?
"If the whole world were to issue travel advisories against Malaysia, their own survival would face huge impacts. My colleagues and I at the ministry are eager to work hand-in-hand with tourism operators to promote Malaysia's tourism industry. We hope that they will fully cooperate on this matter, and even engage in more substantive dialogue and discussion with the ministry, creating a more progressive and civilized development environment for the nation’s tourism industry."