A day after the latest express bus tragedy caused by a driver's recklessness, a passenger videotaped what could have caused a similar accident.

Speaking to Malaysiakini, the passenger who requested anonymity said a double-decker Mutiara Ekspress bus driver was caught watching a ‘dangdut' music video while driving on the East-Coast Highway from Kuala Terengganu to Kuala Lumpur in the early morning of Dec 27.

He claimed that the packed bus was going at 97km per hour - well over the bus speed limit of 90km per hour - after passing the Kuantan exit.

The passenger who was on the upper tier of the bus, said he was awakened from his sleep by the bumpy ride and decided to have a peek at the driver's cockpit.

"I saw some (flickering) lights at the driver's area and I went to have a closer look only to find that he was watching a music video using a camera monitor installed in front of the steering wheel," he said, adding that this was ‘clear abuse' of procedure.

"I would assume the camera monitor was installed for (security reasons), but somehow the driver used it (for entertainment purposes)," he said.

The irate passenger said that he managed to record the whole incident using his mobile phone without being noticed by the driver.

"After taking the footage, I told him that only that morning there was a tragic accident involving an express bus and suggested he turn off the music video."

It was only after repeated admonitions from him that the driver complied with the request.

The complainant has provided a 30-second video clip to Malaysiakini showing the ‘dangdut' clip being played while the bus was speeding along the highway.

The bus driver, however, could not be identified in the video, which was taken in very poor light.

The aggrieved passenger later complained to the bus owner, Kota Bharu-based Konsortium Mutiara Ekspress Sdn Bhd, but the company "refused" to initiate an investigation of the driver.

"The company said they could only conduct an investigation if I file a ‘black-and-white' complaint so they could have the evidence.

"But I told them straight that they will get the evidence from the media," said the outraged passenger.

‘Driver denied abusing camera'

Contacted later by Malaysiakini, Konsortium Mutiara Ekspress operating department official Mohamad Anuar conceded that the driver was quizzed by the management over the incident.

Mohamad said the driver denied he had abused the video facility as it could only be used as a camera to help the driver monitor the back of the bus and not to play videos.

The express bus official argued that it was impossible for the device to be modified into a video player as the bus was only one month's old.

According to him, the company could not initiate a thorough investigation without hard evidence.

"If the complainant did not provide us the evidence, how does he expect us to go into detail?" he asked.

"I am not saying that we are defending (the driver), but the complainant should have come to us first with the evidence," asserted Mohamad.

A day before this alleged incident, 10 passengers were killed and two injured after a double-decker Sani Express bus skidded and hit the road divider when the driver reportedly ‘dozed off' while driving.

The 12 people had been seated on the lower tier of the bus in the 1am accident while the two drivers and the 36 other passengers were unhurt.

However, accidents involving interstate buses are common in Malaysia and there are allegations that some drivers take drugs to keep them awake, especially during night journeys.

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