There were two recent cases of accidents in Malaysia that should cause concern to visitors. A bus travelling down from Cameron Highlands went into a ravine killing many tourists. A boat capsized after a trip from a kelong in Sibu Island and 4 Singaporeans drowned.
I want to quote these two incidents about the harm caused by the free market, without adequate regulation. The tour operators had to compete fiercely for business by reducing their prices. They pay low wages to workers who have to work long hours to earn enough to make a living. There is inadequate regulation on working hours, minimum wage and safety standards. The consumers are not able to know about the poor safety standards, until they are in the bus or the boat, and then it is too late.
I am in favor of a regulated market, where there is regulation on fair practices and safety standards. The regulation will apply to all business entities. This may cause the price to be higher, e.g. due to minimum wage levels, but it is better for consumers in the long run. We see this type of regulated practices in the advanced countries of Europe, America and Australia. The standards should apply to Singapore, Malaysia and other Asian countries. I am impressed that China is giving attention to this type of issues, rather than just leave matter to the market to sort out.
Tan Kin Lian
I think it's Cameron Highland.
ReplyDeleteCapsizing of Asian ferries are usually caused by one thing, overloading of passengers. In Singapore and western ferries, passenger numbers have always been strictly observed by the operators.
ReplyDeleteAs for coaches, I think that the network of private coach operators along the Singapore to Hatyai route (with the whole of peninsula Malaya in between) are actually safer, more comfortable and more value for money than the US system of a single operator (Greyhound).
Greyhound coaches are still stuck in the era of 40-seaters despite distances traveled can be as long as 3,000 miles taking 3 days and nights. Whereas, most Malaysian coaches have converted to 24-seaters. The difference is like economy class and business class. Perhaps that why economy class is also known as coach class in US.
Greyhound coaches also have single driver regardless of distances from terminal to terminal. Malaysian coaches usually have two drivers relieving each other on distances like Singapore to KL or longer. In terms of alertness with sufficient rest from fatigue, it's clearly safer with two drivers.
Of course, US wages are very high and having two drivers per coach would make it even more expensive. Also being a continental sized country, their drivers are mostly very experienced with ultra-long distance driving. The distance between LA and NY is roughly about that between Singaore and HK.
I think that not-so-good safety record of Malaysian coaches is more due to road conditions that are usually not as good as those in US. On very well maintained roads like PLUS (N-S Highway) it's usually due to other bad drivers.
In recent years, there's a new factor introduced to the safety equation, over-upgrading of long distance coaches to become super VIP double deckers like first class. It may be very comfortable for the passengers in it but its safety on long distances that would somehow encounter roads less well paved and maintained than PLUS is obviously compromised.
Wonder if anyone, including our LTA cares or bothers about these Tour Buses that are now travelling up to 100km per hrs on our Expressways ?
ReplyDeleteMaybe, the YOG has given legal backing to any Bus, whether SIN or MAL registered to ignore the Speed Limit for buses and /or the Expressway speed limits !
Was real pissed that the Authority did nothing when it was pointed out during the YOG about the "idiotic" -Give-way to YOG buses on Expressway -2nd lane from the left.