
15 dead after bus carrying UPSI students crashes in Gerik
The bus had been travelling from Jerteh, Terengganu, to Tanjung Malim, Perak, when the accident took place. (Facebook pic)
PETALING JAYA : At least 15 people were killed in an accident between a Perodua Alza and a bus carrying students from Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI) early this morning.
The collision took place on the Gerik-Jeli East West Highway, near Tasik Banding. It is understood that the bus had been travelling from Jerteh, Terengganu, to Tanjung Malim, Perak, Bernama reported.
The Hulu Perak Civil Defence Force operations control centre said it received a call about the incident from Gerik Hospital at 1.10am.
'Upon arrival at the location, it was discovered that the bus had overturned in the collision with a Perodua Alza MPV,' it said in a statement quoted by Bernama.
A total of 48 victims were involved. Of these, 13 died at the scene and two others at the hospital. Four others were injured.
Perak fire and rescue department director Sayani Saidon said the bus and the MPV had been travelling in the same direction from Jeli, Kelantan, to Gerik.
She said the crash caused the bus to overturn and the MPV to skid into a ditch.
'Some victims managed to exit the vehicle on their own and some were thrown out, while others remained trapped inside the bus.
'The operations commander cut open the rear section of the bus using hydraulic tools to create a working space,' she was quoted as saying by Bernama.
She added that six victims were subsequently found still inside the bus.
She said the injured victims were stabilised by personnel from the fire department and handed over to the health ministry for further treatment.
Bernama also quoted UPSI deputy vice-chancellor (student affairs and alumni) Norkhalid Salimin, who said most of the passengers on the bus were students returning to campus after the Aidiladha break.
'They had gathered in Jerteh and chartered a private bus to return to campus after celebrating the festive break in their hometowns,' he said.

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The Sun
21 minutes ago
- The Sun
Make wearing seat belts mandatory in buses
KUALA LUMPUR: The tragedy that claimed 15 lives at KM53, of the East-West Highway (JRTB), near Tasik Banding, Gerik, early Monday morning, clearly indicated the laxity of law enforcement and the careless attitude of public transport operators who take passenger safety for granted. Although it is mandatory to install and wear seat belts for all passengers of new express buses and sightseeing buses starting in 2020, after almost five years, the regulation appears to be largely ineffective, with little to no real impact. In fact, in the tragedy early yesterday morning, some victims were reported to have been thrown out, thus becoming a stark reminder that the safety of lives cannot be compromised. Although a thorough investigation into the tragic incident is being conducted through a newly established special task force, experts also view the failure of enforcement to implement existing laws as a matter of serious concern, furthering the need to improve passenger safety. ALSO READ: Safety, improvement of East-West Highway to be brought to Cabinet tomorrow- Loke Commenting on this, Alliance for a Safe Community chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye stated that many buses still do not comply with the seat belt requirement. 'When an accident occurs, of course passengers are thrown out of the bus due to not wearing seat belts. This demonstrates the careless attitude of public transport operators, who appear to disregard the safety of passengers. 'So I see this issue involving the failure to enforce the law. It is very important to implement and enforce to reduce the impact of fatal accidents,' he told Bernama. Meanwhile, Malaysian Road and Transport Safety Association president Md Hairolazaman Muhamed Nor said his party also emphasised monitoring the installation of seat belts in every bus. ALSO READ: UPSI bus tragedy probe still in early stage - Ayob Khan 'This action can encourage more bus operators to follow the regulations set by the Industry Code of Practice (ICOP) Safety Training and the Road Transport Department,' he said. Explaining further, Md Hairolazaman said the installation of a Global Positioning System (GPS) and cameras installed in buses can monitor passengers to always wear seat belts throughout the journey. Sharing the same view, Universiti Putra Malaysia Road Safety Research Centre head Assoc. Prof. Dr Law Teik Hua said bus operators can no longer take lightly the provision of seat belt in passenger seats which are safety-related. 'It is mandatory to have a seat belt in every seat in the bus. So the parties involved must find a way to ensure that passengers use the seat belt, for example, a seat belt with an 'alarm'. ALSO READ: UPSI bus crash driver had 18 outstanding traffic violations: Police 'If not worn (the seat belt), it will sound and warn the bus driver to ensure that passengers comply with the rules,' he explained. In the accident that occurred between 12.30 and 1 am, 15 students from Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI) died after the chartered bus they were travelling in from Jertih to Tanjung Malim, Perak overturned after being involved in an accident with a multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) at JRTB, near Tasik Banding, Perak. The accident also left 33 others injured, including the bus driver and attendant, as well as the driver and three passengers of a Perodua Alza.

Malay Mail
22 minutes ago
- Malay Mail
Gerik crash: Bus driver apologises, denies speeding after viral video claims, says brakes failed
TAIPING, June 10 — The driver of the ill-fated bus that crashed and killed 15 Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI) students yesterday has apologised and denied claims he was speeding. Mohd Amirul Fadhil Zulkifle said the incident was caused by sudden brake failure while descending a hilly stretch on the East-West Highway, near the elephant crossing bridge in Gerik, Harian Metro reported today. 'I apologise to all the victims' families and the students involved in the accident yesterday morning. What happened was because the bus brakes suddenly failed,' he was quoted as saying from his hospital bed at Taiping Hospital, Perak. He said the bus – which departed from Terengganu for the main UPSI campus in Tanjung Malim, Perak – was functioning well, until the brakes failed without warning. 'At that moment, I tried everything I could, but since the bus had no air pressure left, nothing worked — not even the handbrake or the gear shift,' he was quoted as saying. Amirul claimed he did his best to avoid crashing into other vehicles as the bus sped downhill uncontrollably. 'What I did then was try to avoid hitting other vehicles. As far as I remember, I managed to avoid four vehicles, including a lorry, before the accident happened. 'The last vehicle I overtook was a car with a dashcam, and by then I was doing everything I could to prevent a worse situation.' A video clip of the bus overtaking vehicles on the highway has been circulating on the internet since yesterday, prompting questions about its speed. 'People saw me speeding and overtaking, but the truth is I was trying to avoid crashing into them. Unfortunately, it was a winding road and I couldn't do anything more,' Amirul was quoted as saying. The 39-year-old who has been driving buses since 2016 claimed he shouted to warn the students aboard the bus once the brakes failed. 'Those sitting at the front may have heard me, but most at the back were asleep and thought I was just yelling. 'I estimate the bus travelled for over a kilometre without brakes. I truly did my best as a driver to prevent the accident. 'I wasn't speeding as claimed. I know the Jeli-Gerik route well, and we were going downhill at the time,' he was quoted as saying. When the bus overturned, Amirul said he briefly lost consciousness. Upon waking up, he urged the UPSI students to crawl out through the broken windscreen. He related that he did the same and cried when he saw the students' condition. 'In all my years of driving, this is the first accident involving fatalities. As a bus driver, I feel deeply guilty. 'But there's no turning back time. All I can do is apologise, and I leave the investigation to the police,' the Besut native added. Amirul is currently awaiting surgery for a broken left arm. Yesterday, police said preliminary investigations found the bus had hit the rear of a Perodua Alza multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) before overturning. The MPV carried a family of four who survived the crash after veering into a ditch. The driver and his toddler son have since been discharged while his wife and six-year-old daughter remain warded for medical treatment at Baling Hospital in Kedah. Police have yet to formally question the bus driver and have indicated they will apply for a remand order after he is discharged.


New Straits Times
26 minutes ago
- New Straits Times
No potholes, signage intact at site of fatal UPSI bus crash
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