Loke, who extended condolences to the victims’ families, also directed JPJ to take appropriate action against the trailer lorry and bus involved in the collision on the North-South Expressway near Ayer Keroh.

“JPJ will maintain strict enforcement of safety regulations for heavy commercial vehicles to ensure the safety of all road users,” he said in a statement today.

Former transport minister Wee Ka Siong earlier called for the setting up of a task force by the government to probe the crash.

Wee also expressed concern over the trend of fatal accidents involving heavy vehicles over the year, with 825 reported by the police up until October – an average of about three lorry crashes a day.

He said the authorities needed to take the matter seriously to prevent further loss of life as this was a “very worrying” trend.

This comes after it was reported that a detached tyre from a lorry caused a tour bus to lose control, swerve into the opposite lane and collide with a trailer lorry, resulting in the fatal accident.

The crash resulted in seven fatalities, including three men, three women and a baby girl.

A total of 33 people were reported injured, with 17 taken to Melaka Hospital, 10 to Alor Gajah Hospital and six to Hospital Pantai Ayer Keroh.