The company, M Kumar Trans Tour Sdn Bhd, faced two charges of allowing a driver to drive the bus without a licence and using a bus with an expired permit.

The bus, which was carrying 18 Chinese nationals, the bus driver and two tour guides, was heading down from the holiday resort when it toppled and hit a road divider at 10.20am on June 29.

In the first charge, the company was alleged to have allowed its driver, S Anand Kumar, 32, to drive the bus without a licence and in a reckless manner to the extent of causing the death of two passengers in the crash at Km16.5 Jalan Genting Highlands.

The company was also charged with operating a tour bus whose permit had lapsed on Feb 16.

The charges, framed under Section 41 (1)(b)(ii) and (iii) of the Land Public Transport Act 2010 (Act 715), carry a maximum fine of RM500,000 or jail term of two years, or both, if convicted.

The company, represented by its director, M Kumar, 50, pleaded not guilty to both charges after they were read out before magistrate Nuur Fakhizaa Abu Bakar.

The court set Sept 27 for re-mention of the case.