SECOND-HAND AND OBSOLETE BUSES ON ROAD

Mr Eric Cheong Yuen Chee asked the Minister for Communications whether he is aware that a certain bus company is using second-hand and obsolete buses purchased from another bus company, and whether such buses are roadworthy.

Mr Yong Nyuk Lin: Sir, it has been the policy of our Registrar of Vehicles Department for some years not to permit second-hand and obsolete buses to be registered for use as public service vehicles. Unfortunately, it is on record that seven old buses which were purchased by a certain bus company from another bus company were approved for registration for use as public service vehicles early in 1966. But when this was discovered after an investigation, the senior official responsible for approving these cases was retired from service in the public interest in August 1966. The buses concerned are still in use, subject to half-yearly mechanical inspections as to their roadworthiness.