Latest news with #GerikJeli
Free Malaysia Today
10 hours ago
- Free Malaysia Today
Bus in Gerik crash newly serviced, had no issues, says firm
A total of 15 UPSI students on board the bus died in the crash that occurred on the Gerik-Jeli East West Highway, near Tasik Banding. (Bernama pic) PETALING JAYA : The bus involved in this morning's accident that killed 15 university students was recently serviced and the driver has a good track record, says the firm that operated the bus. Kenari Utara Travel & Tours Sdn Bhd said the bus, which was serviced last month, had no issues and was always sent in for service on schedule. Kenari Utara operations officer Nazri Nawi said the driver, who was loaned by another company, was known to be a responsible driver well-versed with the Gerik-Jeli route, Berita Harian reported. 'What has happened is very sad. I'm not saddened by the damage sustained by the bus, but the deaths and injuries to the Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI) students on board,' he said. The accident took place on the Gerik-Jeli East West Highway, near Tasik Banding. It is understood that the bus was on the way from Jerteh, Terengganu, to Tanjung Malim, Perak. A total of 48 victims were involved: 42 students, the bus driver and his assistant, and a married couple along with their six-year-old daughter and three-year-old son, who were in a Perodua Alza the bus collided with. Thirteen UPSI students died at the scene and two at the hospital. Police are forming a special task force, joined by the Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research, road transport department, Land Public Transport Agency and other relevant agencies to investigate the crash.
Free Malaysia Today
10 hours ago
- Free Malaysia Today
Selfish, careless drivers to blame for unending accidents, says IGP
Inspector-General of Police Razarudin Husain said the May 13 accident that killed nine Federal Reserve Unit men and other fatal accidents since then have not served as a lesson to some drivers. PETALING JAYA : Traffic accidents will continue to happen so long as drivers continue to be careless and selfish, says Inspector-General of Police Razarudin Husain. He said despite the numerous efforts by the authorities and related agencies, including enforcement actions and safety campaigns, the ultimate responsibility still lay with the drivers, Utusan Malaysia reported. 'The government's efforts to reduce traffic accident rates, especially fatal ones, will not succeed if drivers do not obey the law. 'If drivers continue to be careless, selfish and indifferent to the safety of other road users, accidents will continue to happen,' he was quoted as saying. A fatal crash between a bus and an MPV on the Gerik-Jeli East West Highway this morning resulted in the death of 15 students from Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI). The 15 were among 42 students on board the bus, along with the bus driver and his assistant. Those in the MPV were a couple, their six-year-old daughter and a three-year-old son. Thirteen of the UPSI students died at the scene and two at the hospital. Four people were injured. Razarudin said the accident on May 13 that killed nine Federal Reserve Unit (FRU) men and other fatal incidents since then have not served as a lesson to some drivers. 'This is not to mention heavy vehicles like lorries and buses that are no longer roadworthy, but continue to be used by certain parties,' he said.
Free Malaysia Today
14 hours ago
- Free Malaysia Today
Cops probing fatal crash that killed 15 UPSI students
Perak police chief Noor Hisam Nordin said preliminary investigations found that the site of the accident was neither slippery nor wet, although it was dimly lit. (Facebook pic) PETALING JAYA : Police have confirmed that investigations are underway into the fatal crash between a bus and an MPV, which claimed the lives of 15 Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI) students early this morning. Perak police chief Noor Hisam Nordin said the case is being investigated under Section 41(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987 for causing death by dangerous driving. 'We will examine all possible factors, including technical malfunctions and human negligence. The road on which the crash occurred was downhill and winding. Every possibility will be thoroughly investigated. 'The crash is being investigated and updates will be provided in due course,' he told a press conference today. He also said that preliminary investigations found that the accident site was neither slippery nor wet, although it was dimly lit. Asked whether the 40-year-old bus driver was speeding at the time of the incident, Noor Hisam said that the matter remained mere speculation for now. A netizen had claimed in a social media post that the bus overtook his vehicle at high speed. The accident 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. A total of 48 victims were involved: 42 students, the bus driver and his assistant, and a married couple along with their six-year-old daughter and three-year-old son who were in the MPV. Thirteen of the UPSI students died at the scene and two at the hospital. Four people were injured. Perak fire and rescue department director Sayani Saidon earlier 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.
Free Malaysia Today
15 hours ago
- Free Malaysia Today
Govt to review SOPs for bus rentals, Zambry says after Gerik crash
Higher education minister Zambry Abdul Kadir said his ministry and the education and health ministries are working closely to channel immediate aid to the victims and their families. (Bernama pic) PETALING JAYA : The standard operating procedures (SOPs) for bus rentals by students and safety measures will be reviewed following the accident that killed 15 Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI) students this morning. Higher education minister Zambry Abdul Kadir said the government would leave it to the transport ministry to investigate the incident for compliance with safety guidelines and procedures. 'I have discussed this with transport minister Loke Siew Fook. We will leave it to his ministry to conduct a follow-up investigation,' Berita Harian reported him as telling reporters at Raja Permaisuri Bainun Hospital in Ipoh, Perak, today. Zambry said his ministry and the education and health ministries were working closely to give immediate aid to the victims and their families. 'Immediate action is being taken, and all the basics are being prepared, including hearses for the bodies. 'Aid is being given to the affected families, including RM2,000 from the higher education ministry and RM1,000 each from UPSI for the management of the remains. 'Additional aid such as funeral aid, insurance, zakat, and accident compensation will be handled by UPSI,' he said. The accident 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. A total of 48 victims were involved: 42 students, the bus driver and his assistant, and a married couple along with their six-year-old daughter and three-year-old son, who were in the MPV. Thirteen of the UPSI students died at the scene and two at the hospital.
Free Malaysia Today
12-05-2025
- Free Malaysia Today
Install speed bumps at key wildlife crossings, govt urged
TikTok users posted videos of the mother elephant, which they said patiently waited until daybreak for its baby to be removed from under the lorry. PETALING JAYA : Conservation group WWF has called on the government to consider installing speed bumps at key wildlife crossings, after a baby elephant was killed in a collision along the East-West Highway early yesterday morning. WWF said existing signboards to remind drivers to slow down have not proven sufficient, and it was time to look into 'more tangible deterrents'. 'Installing speed bumps at key wildlife crossing points may prove to be far more effective in compelling drivers to reduce speed. 'Doing so not only protects wildlife, it also enhances the safety of motorists,' it said in a statement. WWF said that apart from speed bumps, there was a need for wildlife viaducts and underpasses as well as public awareness campaigns. Yesterday, a lorry hit the calf when it is said to have suddenly exited the forest on the left side of the highway. The incident caught the attention of social media users who posted videos of the mother elephant, which they said patiently waited until daybreak for its baby to be removed from under the lorry. WWF said the heartbreaking incident underscored the urgent need for improved wildlife protection measures along the Gerik-Jeli highway, a known hotspot for wildlife crossings. It said conservationists and concerned members of the public have long been calling for stricter enforcement of speed limits, improved lighting, and most critically, the construction of wildlife crossings to reduce fatal accidents involving endangered species. 'There is already one dedicated wildlife viaduct along this highway, but more such infrastructure is urgently needed here to support safe passage for wild animals,' it said. Earlier today, a road safety activist, Hisham Shafe, called for a comprehensive review of precautionary measures following the incident which, he said, reflected a continued failure to address road safety issues in areas that intersect with wildlife habitats.
