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New Straits Times
5 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Not just drivers: Activist demands road overhaul after tragic Gerik crash
GERIK: The steep descent from Jeli to Gerik can cause vehicle speed to reach 80kmph without even pressing the accelerator. This grim reality was underscored by a tragic accident involving a tour bus carrying Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI) students on the East-West Highway yesterday. The incident, which claimed the lives of 15 students and left dozens injured, has renewed calls for urgent action to improve safety on this notoriously hazardous stretch of road. An activist from the East-West Highway (JRTB) group, Mohd Fadzil Abdul Aziz, said it is insufficient to place the blame solely on driver error or vehicle faults. He said that the condition of the road itself has long been neglected. "Many parts of the JRTB have suffered from poor maintenance, with winding sections that require smooth driving free from structural defects. "Unfortunately, the authorities often patched up damaged roads, leaving them unstable and dangerous, especially when combined with faded or missing road markings," he said. He said accidents on the stretch were all too common, particularly during rainy days. "The winding, uneven, and poorly-lit roads at night are key contributors to accidents here," he said. Mohd Fadzil also pointed out the lack of speed limit signs in many sections, which can cause drivers to underestimate the risks. He also cautioned that mechanical issues, particularly brake failures, are even more hazardous due to the steep gradient, which naturally increases vehicle speed. "It's not fair to blame only the drivers without considering other factors, including the condition of the road. "Furthermore, this area is part of a wildlife corridor, home to elephants and tigers," he said. He recalled an earlier accident on May 11 involving a baby elephant, which he said, highlighted the tragedies linked to this stretch of road that cannot be blamed solely on human negligence. He urged the relevant authorities to take immediate action to conduct comprehensive maintenance to make the JRTB safer for all road users. In the recent accident, the collision between a tour bus and a Perodua Alza on this stretch of road resulted in the deaths of 15 UPSI students. Another 33 victims were injured and rushed to Gerik Hospital, where 18 were discharged after treatment. The remaining 15 victims are still receiving care, with 10 at Taiping Hospital, two at Raja Permaisuri Bainun Hospital in Ipoh, and three at Baling Hospital.
Malay Mail
a day ago
- Malay Mail
Nanta: Works Ministry directs JKR to provide technical support in Gerik crash investigation
KUALA LUMPUR, June 9 — The Public Works Department (JKR) has been instructed to work closely with the highway maintenance concessionaire to provide technical expertise and advisory support following a fatal accident involving a chartered bus and another vehicle on Jalan Raya Timur-Barat (JRTB) Banun, Gerik, early today. Works Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi said the move was aimed at facilitating a comprehensive investigation by the authorities. He also urged the public to give space for the investigation into the tragedy, which claimed the lives of 15 students from Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI), to proceed smoothly. 'My team at the Works Ministry and I will continue to monitor the progress of the investigation and will extend full cooperation to the relevant authorities to ensure justice and public safety,' he said in a Facebook post today. The bus, reportedly carrying UPSI students, was en route from Jertih, Terengganu, to UPSI in Tanjung Malim, Perak, when it collided with a multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) in the early hours of the morning. Expressing his sorrow, Nanta described the incident as a national tragedy. 'I extend my heartfelt condolences to the families of all the victims. The loss of 15 young lives who would have been future educators of our nation is a devastating blow for Malaysia,' he said. He also prayed for the swift recovery of those injured and hoped their medical treatment would proceed smoothly. Nanta added that KKR has been closely monitoring the rescue operations, which involve multiple agencies including the Fire and Rescue Department, the Civil Defence Force, the police, and the Ministry of Health. 'I would like to express my deepest appreciation to all the frontline personnel who responded swiftly and with dedication since the early hours of the incident,' he said. — Bernama
Free Malaysia Today
22-05-2025
- General
- Free Malaysia Today
Perhilitan expects Gerik elephant sanctuary to be operational by 2030
Based on Perhilitan's records, 4,919 complaints of human-elephant conflict were reported between 2020 and 2024, with property losses estimated at RM39.4 million. (Bernama pic) IPOH : The Perak Elephant Sanctuary at Jalan Raya Timur-Barat (JRTB) is expected to be completed by 2030, says Perak wildlife and national parks department (Perhilitan) director Yusoff Shariff. He said the RM40 million project was submitted to the economy ministry on May 6 and that any decision on its construction fell entirely under the jurisdiction of the federal government. 'If everything goes smoothly, I think this sanctuary can operate as early as 2028, but for (the infrastructure facility) to be fully completed, perhaps 2030 is a more realistic target,' he said when contacted by Bernama. Bernama reported on July 18, 2020 that the energy and natural resources ministry had announced the development of the Perak Elephant Sanctuary at Batu 11, JRTB in Gerik. Based on Perhilitan's records, 4,919 complaints of human-elephant conflict were reported between 2020 and 2024, with property losses estimated at RM39.4 million. On the effectiveness of a wildlife crossing at JRTB, Yusoff said the 200m crossing, also known as a viaduct which was built for RM26 million in 2015, had proved helpful but did not guarantee the safety of elephants that inhabit the area along the route. He said this was because the crossing was built at KM157 of the JRTB and only used by the elephants that inhabit that specific area. 'The viaduct only helps on a small scale and is only used by animals inhabiting that area. So we feel that the setting up of a sanctuary will provide greater safety assurance for both road users and elephants at the JRTB,' he said. He did not rule out the possibility of building more wildlife crossings along the JRTB if there was a specific allocation for it.
Malay Mail
22-05-2025
- General
- Malay Mail
Perhilitan expects elephant sanctuary in Gerik to be operational by 2030
IPOH, May 22 — The Perak Elephant Sanctuary at Jalan Raya Timur-Barat (JRTB) is expected to be completed by 2030, said Perak Department of Wildlife and National Parks (Perhilitan) director Yusoff Shariff. He said the RM40 million project had been submitted to the Economy Ministry on May 6 and the decision on its construction falls entirely under the jurisdiction of the Federal government. 'If everything goes smoothly, I think this sanctuary can operate as early as in 2028, but for (the infrastructure facility) to be fully completed, perhaps 2030 is a more realistic target. 'With the availability of such a facility, it will reduce human-elephant conflicts at JRTB by about 50 to 50 per cent,' he said when contacted by Bernama. Bernama reported on July 18, 2020, that the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources announced the development of the Perak Elephant Sanctuary (PES) at Batu 11, JRTB in Gerik. Based on Perhilitan's records, 4,919 complaints of human-elephant conflicts were reported between 2020 and 2024, with property loss estimated at RM39.4 million. On the effectiveness of a wildlife crossing at the JRTB, Yusoff said the 200-metre crossing, also known as a viaduct that was built for RM26 million in 2015, proved helpful but does not guarantee the safety of elephants that inhabited the area along the route. He added that this was because the crossing was built at Kilometre 157 of the JRTB and only used by the elephants that inhabit that specific area. 'The viaduct only helps on a small scale and is only used by animals inhabiting that area. So, we feel that the setting up of a sanctuary will provide greater safety assurance for both road users and elephants at the JRTB,' he said. He also did not rule out the possibility of building more wildlife crossings along the JRTB if there is a specific allocation for it. — Bernama
