Malaysia Transport Safety Board (MTSB) Bill to be tabled in June, cabinet has agreed in principle – Loke

The Malaysia Transport Safety Board (MTSB) Bill is expected to be tabled in parliament this June, transport minister Anthony Loke has said, according to a Bernama report.

The cabinet has agreed in principle to establish the MTSB, but a dedicated Act must first be drafted to provide its legal basis before the board can be fully implemented, and preparatory work is now being finalised through discussions with relevant ministries and agencies, including efforts to coordinate the roles of existing bodies, he said.

“At this stage, the Bill is being drafted. One of the main challenges is integrating or restructuring the roles of related agencies such as the Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (MIROS) and the Air Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB),” Loke said yesterday in the Dewan Rakyat, adding that all functions must be reintegrated in line with the government’s and the public service department’s positions against a large increase in new posts.

“This is to reduce the financial impact on the government. It is one of the challenges in setting up the new body,” he said.

First talked about as early as 2015, the MTSB is to conduct independent and transparent investigations, research, operations and monitoring for land (road and rail), maritime (including river transport) and aviation post-crash management.

“We will take into account best practices used by (international) agencies. The task force set up for this purpose will also operate independently in conducting investigations and making recommendations. Once the report is completed, it will not be altered and will be released publicly,” Loke said in November.