Gerik crash: M'sia needs corporate liability law, says Azalina

KUALA LUMPUR: It is timely for the government to consider amending the Penal Code or introducing a new law for corporate liability in light of the fatal Gerik bus crash yesterday, says Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said.
The minister in the prime minister's department (law and institutional reform) said such a law had already been introduced in the United Kingdom.
This, she said, was brought about in response to several workplace fatalities where no corporate entity could be held criminally accountable under previous laws, especially companies providing transportation services.
Azalina said she agreed with Transport Minister Anthony Loke's call for firm action against those responsible for yesterday's crash which claimed 15 lives.
"In this regard, it may be time to assess the effectiveness of law enforcement.
"(It may also be time) for the government to consider amending the Penal Code or introducing a new act, similar to the UK Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act 2007," she said.
She added that the UK law allows a company to be prosecuted for serious failures in the way it manages the safety of its workers or the public, and for negligence that results in death.
"This act was introduced in the UK in response to several workplace fatalities where no corporate entity could be held criminally accountable under existing laws, especially companies providing transportation services, as these involve human lives which are of immeasurable value," she said in a social media post.
Yesterday, Loke had said in a statement that the Land Public Transport Agency (Apad) has issued a show-cause letter to the bus operator involved in the crash and the Road Transport Department (RTD) is concurrently conducting a Safety Inspection and Audit (JISA) on the bus and the operating company.
He had said stern action will be taken once investigations are completed.

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