UPSI Students Hired Private Bus for Aidiladha Return Trip
PETALING JAYA: The Vice-Chancellor of Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI), Professor Datuk Dr Md Amin Md Taff, has clarified that the bus journey involved in the tragic accident along the East-West Highway in Banun, Gerik, was a private arrangement made by students themselves and not a university-organised programme.
According to him, the tour bus had been privately hired by students for their return journey to campus after spending the Aidiladha holidays in their hometowns around Jertih and Hulu Terengganu areas.
'This journey was entirely managed by the students themselves for their return from the Hari Raya Haji break, with no involvement from lecturers or university staff,' he emphasised during an interview with Sinar Harian, today.
Following the tragic incident, UPSI took swift action by establishing a special operations centre operating round-the-clock to coordinate welfare assistance and provide support to victims and their families.
READ ALSO: Gerik Crash: UPSI establishes crisis centre following fatal bus accident
Md Amin informed that university teams are now stationed at Raja Permaisuri Bainun Hospital in Ipoh and Gerik Hospital to monitor the current situation and ensure victims' needs are addressed promptly.
'Counselling teams have also been deployed, whilst the special operations centre at UPSI campus is operating at full capacity to coordinate assistance in collaboration with community leaders in Jertih and Hulu Terengganu.
'We will ensure every family receives appropriate assistance covering emotional, logistical and welfare aspects,' he stated.
He added that this tragedy represents the first such incident involving UPSI students with such a large number of casualties.
'The entire UPSI community and Malaysians are deeply saddened. We bid farewell to those who perished and pray for the best for all victims,' he said.
Regarding the actual number of casualties or injured victims, Md Amin mentioned that the university is still awaiting official information from the relevant authorities.
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Aidiladha in Cambodia: A Humbling Reflection on Faith and Privilege
PHNOM PENH: On the morning of Aidiladha, I woke up in Kampot to an unfamiliar stillness. No Adhan, no soul-lifting congregational Eid Takbeer, no festive sounds in the air. Nothing to indicate that this is one of the biggest holidays in the Islamic calendar. Back home in Malaysia, the day would begin with those familiar echoes from mosques and surau, a comforting constant we rarely pause to appreciate. From my hotel window, the city lay quiet. No crowds in colourful 'baju Melayu' or women in their prayer clothing or 'telekung' heading to the mosque. It felt strange, even lonely, and for the first time, I missed what I had always assumed would be there. That silence made something clear to me. Back home, we often speak as though Islam is under siege. But here in Cambodia, Muslims practise quietly, with fewer resources, far less visibility, with no complaint. The contrast was humbling. The truth is, we have it good and we don't always realise it. This is what the Bank Rakyat Kembara Qurban Kemboja 2025 initiative, a three-day programme aimed at reaching underserved Muslim communities for the annual sacrificial ritual (Qurban), did to me. It was more than a charity mission - it was a quiet, powerful eye-opener. RESILIENCE FORGED THROUGH FAITH AND COMMUNITY In the outskirts of Kampot at Kampung Trapeng Pinh, our group of 21 volunteers, including seven media practitioners, witnessed the qurban of 10 cows, with the meat distributed to the Muslim community in neighbouring villages. We arrived there by tuk-tuk to perform the Aidiladha prayer and were greeted with warm smiles and heartfelt hospitality. What surprised me most was seeing them performing their wudhu (ablution) in a nearby lake, which was a strange sight for me. Their mosque, Masjid Ar-Rahman, was small and simple, making even our smallest surau back home feel grand. Yet, within those humble walls, faith and devotion filled every corner, proving that true spirituality needs no grandeur. Here, I met the local Imam Abdossomad Abdullah, an ustaz and co-founder of Maahad Al-Rabbani, a madrasah he has spent over ten years helping to establish. His mission has been to encourage the local community of around 5,000 villagers to strengthen Islamic teachings among the younger generation. 'We built this Maahad ourselves, with donations from the villagers, the majority of whom are Muslims. Now, we have over 80 students aged between six and 17 who come from families of fishermen and farmers,' he said. Hearing his story made me reflect on how, back home in Malaysia, the government, particularly at the state level, actively supports Islamic education, including private institutions. In Selangor, for example, they even have Tahfiz Legalisation Programme, which ensures safer, more structured learning environments for students in religious schools. In contrast, these Cambodian madrasahs thrive purely on perseverance and faith. MAAHAD IMAM AS-SHAFIEE: ANOTHER TESTAMENT TO PERSEVERANCE Our journey continued to Kampung Keh, where Maahad Imam As-Shafiee stood proudly, a far cry from the wooden hut it once was. Tucked between modest wooden homes and open fields, the maahad, which has evolved from a wooden hut to a three-block compound, stood as a proud symbol of community spirit and helping hands from Malaysia through Yayasan As-Syafiee. It is now home to 280 young Cambodian Muslims eager to change their lives through education. However, the success story did not come without challenges. One of the educators, Ustaz Badri Ibrahim, recalled how they once relied on wells to reduce monthly water bills that could reach USD300 to USD400, which is widely used as an alternate currency for the local Riel. This was just 15 years ago, a stark reminder of how recent and real those struggles still are. 'The government helps, but unlike in Malaysia, we don't have a specific institution that supervises or oversees our progress and development,' he said. Yayasan As-Syafiee Malaysia chairman Mohd Zamerey Abdul Razak shared that during his visit to Cambodia 15 years ago, he realised that education was the key for the Muslim minority communities to uplift their lives. Moved by this, he gathered friends and like-minded individuals who were willing to support the cause and banded together to help establish the madrasah. 'Then, we organised a Qurban campaign, we got 60 cows, we came and did it here because we wanted to go into the villages and see the reality of their lives because we believe that only education can change their future,' he said. Since then, some students have been accepted into the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM), with one even doing an internship at Wisma Putra, a proof of education's transformative power. 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In Malaysia, we benefit from air-conditioned mosques, subsidised haj programmes and round-the-clock Islamic content as well as full-time officers managing every level of religious affairs. We wear our faith freely and hold Quran recitations in stadiums and express our beliefs openly. These privileges are extraordinary, yet we often forget how rare they truly are elsewhere. This isn't to say we shouldn't protect our values. But perhaps, we can do it without fearmongering, without casting fellow citizens as threats or assuming the worst of others. Instead, let us move forward with gratitude, grace and the quiet strength I witnessed in Cambodia.
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This is what the Bank Rakyat Kembara Qurban Kemboja 2025 initiative, a three-day programme aimed at reaching underserved Muslim communities for the annual sacrificial ritual (Qurban), did to me. It was more than a charity mission - it was a quiet, powerful eye-opener. In the outskirts of Kampot at Kampung Trapeng Pinh, our group of 21 volunteers, including seven media practitioners, witnessed the qurban of 10 cows, with the meat distributed to the Muslim community in neighbouring villages. We arrived there by tuk-tuk to perform the Aidiladha prayer and were greeted with warm smiles and heartfelt hospitality. What surprised me most was seeing them performing their wudhu (ablution) in a nearby lake, which was a strange sight for me. Their mosque, Masjid Ar-Rahman, was small and simple, making even our smallest surau back home feel grand. Yet, within those humble walls, faith and devotion filled every corner, proving that true spirituality needs no grandeur. Here, I met the local Imam Abdossomad Abdullah, an ustaz and co-founder of Maahad Al-Rabbani, a madrasah he has spent over ten years helping to establish. His mission has been to encourage the local community of around 5,000 villagers to strengthen Islamic teachings among the younger generation. 'We built this Maahad ourselves, with donations from the villagers, the majority of whom are Muslims. Now, we have over 80 students aged between six and 17 who come from families of fishermen and farmers,' he said. Hearing his story made me reflect on how, back home in Malaysia, the government, particularly at the state level, actively supports Islamic education, including private institutions. In Selangor, for example, they even have Tahfiz Legalisation Programme, which ensures safer, more structured learning environments for students in religious schools. In contrast, these Cambodian madrasahs thrive purely on perseverance and faith. 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'The government helps, but unlike in Malaysia, we don't have a specific institution that supervises or oversees our progress and development,' he said. Yayasan As-Syafiee Malaysia chairman Mohd Zamerey Abdul Razak shared that during his visit to Cambodia 15 years ago, he realised that education was the key for the Muslim minority communities to uplift their lives. Moved by this, he gathered friends and like-minded individuals who were willing to support the cause and banded together to help establish the madrasah. 'Then, we organised a Qurban campaign, we got 60 cows, we came and did it here because we wanted to go into the villages and see the reality of their lives because we believe that only education can change their future,' he said. Since then, some students have been accepted into the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM), with one even doing an internship at Wisma Putra, a proof of education's transformative power. The contrast with Malaysia is striking as Cambodian madrasahs often start with limited resources, relying on community donations and determination. Back home, Islamic education benefits from structured systems, state oversight, funding, better infrastructure, technology, and a developed curriculum. LIFE ON TONLE SAP: STRUGGLES OF THE RIVER-BOUND COMMUNITY On the final day, we proceeded to Kampung Swai Relom in Kandal province, where the Bank Rakyat Kembara Qurban Kemboja programme reached out to 150 Muslim families who call their boats home, offering support and compassion to a community bound closely to the river. They live aboard narrow 10-metre boats, earning a living as fishermen and needing permission from landowners and local authorities just to dock. As members of the Cham community, their lives remain shaped by history, rooted in displacement, and caught in cycles that are hard to escape. The once-nomadic lifestyle of this community, moving from riverbank to riverbank, is now changing as they settle in one location here in Swai Relom with houses and even a mosque built through contributions from caring non-governmental organisations and individuals. Out of curiosity, I asked our local tour guide about zakat, and he replied that it is not like Malaysia, where zakat is institutionalised. Here in Cambodia, zakat is privately given, often in small amounts, he said. With Muslims forming only two per cent of the population, it is hard for it to reach all poverty-stricken families. In Malaysia, the Federal Territories Islamic Religious Council (MAIWP) recently allocated RM6.5 million in zakat aid to 6,500 registered asnaf in Labuan alone. A REFLECTION THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE What struck me most was the quiet dignity of Combodia's Muslim community, grounded in faith, family and a strong sense of togetherness. In Malaysia, we benefit from air-conditioned mosques, subsidised haj programmes and round-the-clock Islamic content as well as full-time officers managing every level of religious affairs. We wear our faith freely and hold Quran recitations in stadiums and express our beliefs openly. These privileges are extraordinary, yet we often forget how rare they truly are elsewhere. This isn't to say we shouldn't protect our values. But perhaps, we can do it without fearmongering, without casting fellow citizens as threats or assuming the worst of others. Instead, let us move forward with gratitude, grace and the quiet strength I witnessed in Cambodia.
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Sombre atmosphere at hospital as families mourn bus accident victims
IPOH: A sombre atmosphere enveloped the Raja Permaisuri Bainun Hospital mortuary as family members gathered to mourn those who perished in the tragic accident on the East-West Highway. With each passing truck bringing the remains of their loved ones, cries and wails were heard as some family members sobbed uncontrollably. Media personnel were not allowed within the mortuary compound and could only witness the scene from a distance. Fourteen Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI) students and one bus attendant were killed in the accident on the East-West Highway in Banun, Gerik, on Monday (June 9) at about 1am. The bus carrying 42 students overturned while another car with four occupants veered into a ditch. Mohd Alif Nasnawi, 21, said he had tried to contact two friends who were on the bus since early morning. The agricultural science students said his friends, Muhd Adib Hazim Halim and Norayuni Maslan, both 21 and from Terengganu, were supposed to arrive at their campus at about 5am. "After hearing about the accident, I tried calling their mobile phones numerous times, but there was no answer. I was anxious, and my heart broke when I heard the devastating news that they didn't make it," he said. "I last spoke to Adib on Friday. I had asked him about buying a shirt for one of our courses. He's usually quiet, only speaking when necessary," he added. Alif said it is common for university students, especially those from Kelantan and Terengganu, to charter buses when returning to campus. "It's normal, especially after holidays," he added. When met by reporters, Saarani said support would be available for the affected families. "I believe this tragedy will leave a lasting impact on them," he said. UPSI has counselling services available, and I hope they find some comfort and strength in accepting this as part of Allah's will," he added. Saarani also said that the state government would allocate RM1,000 to each affected family. "The financial aid is small, but we hope it helps cover basic needs, such as accommodation, food, or other expenses. "We know not every family is financially well-off, and this is the least we can do to ease their burden," he said, thanking the police for ensuring the victims' remains would be returned to their respective homes. "That's all from me," he said quietly, his voice heavy with emotion.
