Don't exploit their grief: Police urge respect after Gerik bus tragedy

New Straits Times

a day ago

IPOH: Police have reminded the public not to circulate unverified or offensive content related to the tragic crash involving Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI) students, which claimed the lives of 15 individuals.
Perak police chief Datuk Noor Hisam Nordin urged netizens to act responsibly and to refrain from exploiting the tragedy for personal gain.
"I would like to advise the public to remain respectful and not take advantage of this heartbreaking incident. If you had been at the scene, I believe members of the media would agree that it was a truly devastating event. Our focus should be on preventing similar tragedies from happening again.
"I understand that this matter will be discussed at cabinet level today," he told a press conference at the Perak Police Contingent Headquarters today.
He was responding to public outrage over a Facebook post by a user identified as Khalid Yunus, who had written: "15 UPSI Students Die in Disgrace!" and claimed that the students were "not considered believers because they died in debt to PTPTN (National Higher Education Fund Corporation)."
The post has since been deleted, and the user has issued a public apology.
Noor Hisam said that no formal reports had been lodged regarding the post.
"We have a team actively monitoring such content. If any posting crosses the line or if a police report is lodged, we will investigate accordingly," he said.
It was earlier reported that the bus, carrying 42 UPSI students, was travelling from Jertih, Terengganu, to the university's main campus when it collided with a Perodua Alza at KM53 of the East-West Highway.
Thirteen students died at the scene, while two others were pronounced dead in hospital.