
Gerik bus tragedy: Task force formed as police vows swift action
KUALA LUMPUR: The fatal bus crash that claimed the lives of 15 Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI) students in the early hours of this morning near Tasik Banding in Gerik, Perak has prompted the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) to establish a special task force to investigate the tragic incident.
The task force, involving the Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (MIROS), Road Transport Department (JPJ), Land Public Transport Agency (APAD) and other relevant agencies, will conduct a thorough investigation into the incident.
Bukit Aman Traffic Investigation and Enforcement Department director Datuk Seri Mohd Yusri Hassan Basri said the police aim to complete the investigation report as soon as possible to prosecute those allegedly responsible for the crash.
The accident occurred at 1.10 am at KM53 of the East-West Highway (JRTB) in Banun, near Tasik Banding, when the chartered bus carrying UPSI students overturned after colliding with the rear of a Perodua Alza multi-purpose vehicle (MPV).
The bus, carrying 42 students aged 21 to 23 returning to campus after the Aidiladha holidays, departed from Jerteh, Terengganu, at 9 pm last night.
Thirteen victims died at the scene, and two succumbed to injuries in the hospital. Post-mortems for 13 bodies are being conducted at Raja Permaisuri Bainun Hospital (HRPB) in Ipoh, while two are at Gerik Hospital.
The MPV, carrying a family of four including two children, veered off the road, resulting in minor injuries.
Police have yet to identify all victims, including the 15 deceased, as post-mortem processes are ongoing, and are investigating technical aspects, human negligence, the driver's records and also if the road's dark, winding and downhill conditions contributed to the crash.
The Higher Education Ministry (KPT) will provide RM2,000 initial aid and RM1,000 disaster relief to victims' families to ease the burden, including funeral arrangements.
The Terengganu government has also pledged immediate assistance to affected families, while the Perak government has announced a contribution of RM1,000 per victim to help next of kin who travelled to Perak for identification and funeral arrangements.
UPSI has also assigned a staff member to assist each family involved, ensuring their welfare is prioritised throughout the process.
Also, a non-governmental organisation (NGO), Pertubuhan Amal Komuniti Besut (Amal Besut) from Terengganu, has dispatched hearses to Perak to facilitate the repatriation of the deceased.
The Works Ministry (KKR) has instructed the Public Works Department (JKR) to work with the road maintenance concessionaire to provide technical advice and expertise.
The tragedy has also drawn condolences from His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia and Her Majesty Raja Zarith Sofiah, Queen of Malaysia, to the bereaved families.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and members of the Cabinet also conveyed their condolences and sympathies via their respective social media platforms.
In light of the incident, the Federation of Peninsular Malay Students (GPMS) has proposed that the government establish a National Emergency Student Fund to provide immediate support for higher education students and their families in the event of such tragedies, including access to psychological treatment and recovery assistance.
This is not the first deadly bus accident involving driver-related factors. The most recent occurred on Dec 24, 2016, when 14 people were killed and 16 injured after an express bus plunged into a 20-foot ravine at KM137 of the North-South Expressway near Kampung Jayo, Muar in Johor.
The deadliest bus tragedy in Malaysia took place on Aug 21, 2013, when 37 people, including the driver, were killed and 16 others injured after a bus carrying 52 passengers plunged 60 metres into a ravine at KM3.6 of the Genting Highlands-Kuala Lumpur road.
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New Straits Times
16 minutes ago
- New Straits Times
Bus crash site among key highway sections set for upgrades this year
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The Sun
31 minutes ago
- The Sun
Gerik bus crash: APM officer recounts darkest moment in 18-year career
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The Sun
31 minutes ago
- The Sun
Gerik crash: Survivor recounts being thrown out, body landing on him
GERIK: The tragic accident at KM53 of the East-West Highway (JRTB), near Tasik Banding, Gerik, that claimed the lives of 15 students from the Sultan Idris Education University (UPSI) must have left a traumatic impact on the survivors. One such survivor, Abdul Wafiy Kamarudin, 23, when sharing the harrowing moments with Bernama, said the accident had such a strong impact so much so he was flung out of the bus, and most terrifyingly, a victim's body landed on him. Abdul Wafiy, a sixth-semester student pursuing a Bachelor's Degree in Art Education, said he was looking at his mobile phone in the dimness of the night but could feel the bus was on moving quickly as it descended a winding, hilly road. The bus driver stopped briefly to check the vehicle's brakes before continuing the journey, and suddenly at around 1 am, the bus overturned, causing me to be thrown out of the window and into a drain. 'The situation at that time was very I was shocked to find a body on top of me. I was forced to push it off me to save myself,' he said when met while collecting his personal belongings at the Gerik district police headquarters (IPD) here today. However, the youngest among six siblings from Kampung Pak Kancil, Setiu in Terengganu is grateful because he only suffered minor injuries to his hands and face. Meanwhile, Mohd Zaki Ismail, the father to victim Rohadatul Aisy, 21, said his daughter contacted him at about 3 am to say that she had been involved in an accident. 'At that time, she (Rohadatul Aisy) said she was unable to move due to pain in both her neck and waist but a friend had helped carry her out of the bus. 'I immediately left Kampung Gong Badang, Besut in Terengganu at 8 am and arrived at the Gerik Hospital to learn that my daughter suffered a fractured hip,' he said. He also said that Rohadatul is receiving further treatment at the Besut Hospital, while he and his wife, Norliza Ghazali, are waiting to retrieve their child's personal belongings from the Gerik IPD. In the early morning incident yesterday, 15 UPSI students died when a chartered bus from Jertih to Tanjung Malim overturned after colliding with a Perodua Alza at JRTB near Tasik Banding. The accident also resulted in 33 others being injured, including the bus driver and conductor, as well as the driver and three passengers of the multi-purpose vehicle.