Bus company owner quizzed over crash that killed 15 UPSI students

New Straits Times

a day ago

GERIK: The owner of the bus company involved in the tragic crash that claimed 15 lives, while transporting students from Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI), has had his statement recorded by police.
Acting district police chief Deputy Superintendent Muhammad Firdaus Abdullah said the man, in his 50s, was called in to assist with the investigation at the Gerik district police headquarters at 10.30pm last night.
"We took about an hour and 30 minutes to record his statement," he said when contacted today.
Yesterday, it was reported that all permits held by the tour bus company involved in the fatal crash in Gerik were revoked with immediate effect following multiple breaches of permit conditions.
Transport Minister Anthony Loke said the company had committed two major violations: leasing its operating permit to a third party and failing to activate the vehicle's GPS tracking system.
Loke said the permit holder, who is based in Kedah, had l eased the permit to an operator in Kelantan for RM500 a month.
On Monday, 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.