Kuala lumpur: The Malaysia Transport Safety Board (MTSB) Bill is poised to be presented in the Dewan Rakyat this June, as announced by Transport Minister Anthony Loke. The Cabinet has given its initial approval to establish the MTSB, necessitating the drafting of a dedicated Act to provide the legal framework for the board's full implementation.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, preparatory work is nearing completion through discussions with relevant ministries and agencies, focusing on coordinating the roles of existing bodies. The drafting of the Bill presents a significant challenge in integrating or restructuring the roles of agencies such as the Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (MIROS) and the Air Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB).

Loke highlighted the need for reintegration of functions in alignment with the government's stance and the Public Service Department's position against a significant increase in new posts. This approach aims to mitigate the financial impact on the government, presenting one of the challenges in establishing the new body.

In a separate update, Loke emphasized that the Ministry of Transport (MOT) remains open to negotiations with any state government concerning infrastructure development projects, including those involving ports and supporting facilities. He addressed claims of federal government discrimination against certain states as unfounded, attributing them to misunderstandings about the project approval process.

Loke urged that genuine needs, such as the construction of a breakwater, should be communicated for amicable discussion, particularly when a consortium is unable to finance it. He encouraged any transport project-related issues to be brought to the attention of the relevant ministry for further discussion.

The Dewan Rakyat will reconvene tomorrow.