I refer to the malaysiakini report Bus crash kills 20, two in critical condition.

The unforgivable tragedy of the bus accident and the pain people felt - including by our prime minister and his cabinet - is dying down but the families will have to live with their immense pain their entire lives.

Our cabinet discussed and decided, typically, to introduce more procedures and laws to avoid similar occurrences in the future. Are these additional laws necessary? Did the cabinet and the PM ask themselves this question?

Furthermore, what action is recommended to be taken against those, directly or indirectly, who should be held responsible for the tragedy? Below are more questions which should be taken into account.

  • What were the specific laws broken by the driver (who, sadly, is dead too) and the bus company?

  • Which were the enforcement agencies responsible for the implementation of those laws and procedures?

  • Who were the officers who should have taken action under those laws but failed to do so and what action is proposed to be taken against them?

  • Who are the senior officers and heads of departments who failed to do their duties? Have they been identified and what action is recommended to be taken against them as they are the ones accountable?

  • Who are the ministers in charge of those agencies responsible? How are they going to answer to the charge of failing to provide for public safety in areas under their jurisdictions?

  • Do the PM and ministers realise that enforcement and maintenance are completely absent in all walks of life in our country? What are their remedies to correct this deplorable state of affairs all over the country and under all agencies?

We cannot bring back the lives lost in the bus tragedy except to pray for them and their families. However, the government can do a lot to reduce the possibility of a similar incident occurring in the future.

Will the PM and ministers please wake up from their slumber and start doing their jobs? Can we hope?