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Free Malaysia Today
3 days ago
- General
- Free Malaysia Today
Lorry in FRU crash passed Puspakom inspection, says company owner
The crash which killed nine FRU personnel in Teluk Intan on Tuesday occurred when a gravel-laden lorry collided with a FRU truck transporting personnel. (Bernama pic) PETALING JAYA : The owner of the lorry involved in the crash that killed nine Federal Reserve Unit personnel in Teluk Intan on Tuesday says the vehicle passed a Puspakom inspection just last month. The man, who only wished to be known as Ravi, 58, told Utusan Malaysia that the lorry also had all the necessary documents. On Tuesday, deputy prime minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said while the preliminary findings into the crash suggested a steering issue, the accident could have been prevented if the vehicle had undergone a Puspakom inspection. 'Last month, I went to Puspakom and the lorry passed inspection. After that, I renewed the road tax,' said Ravi. Ravi added that the driver involved in the crash had only been working for about a month and a half. The driver, Rudi Zulkarnain Mat Radi, 45, was charged with causing death by reckless driving yesterday. The 8.40am crash, which also left two FRU officers critically injured, occurred when a gravel-laden lorry was involved in a collision with a FRU truck transporting personnel back to their base in Ipoh after they had provided security support at a festival in Teluk Intan. Ravi said he was deeply saddened by the incident and its impact on the victims' families. He said he was constantly thinking about the victims' families and hoped to meet them, if possible. 'Of course, I feel heartbroken,' he said. 'On behalf of the company, we apologise to the families of the victims, and I also extend my condolences to them. I would like to meet them to express my sympathies. 'I constantly think about how they must feel. They've lost family members, lost husbands — how will they go on with their lives? When the head of the family is gone, of course their lives will be difficult.'
Malay Mail
22-05-2025
- Malay Mail
Fatal FRU crash: A classic tale of low priorities
MAY 22 — It's unspoken that a certain income threshold has to be crossed before common folks are permitted principles or opinions. On May 13, two transportation vehicles collided near Teluk Intan and 10 men died. The dump truck driver, carrying only gravel, was unhurt. All the casualties were police personnel presumably sitting at the back of the police truck. Unsurprisingly, the blame centres squarely on the truck driver. He tested negative for drugs while in police remand. His previous six convictions were highlighted by the authorities. One each for drugs and rape, and the rest for theft. Sentences were served already. Rudi Zulkarnain Mat Radi was charged in a magistrate court, released on bail, only to be re-arrested over another case. He is implicated in stolen cattle transportation, apparently in Kampung Kebun Baru, Hutang Melintang 50 kilometres away on April 14. Perhaps Rudi was entirely responsible for the collision. Or as in life, to a degree. But certainly not responsible for all the troubling outcomes from the incident. A bunch of men stacked in a traditional police transport vehicle were always vulnerable. The extent and intent to bury Rudi and leave him the sole fall-guy is feckless. Police remove a Federal Reserve Unit (FRU) lorry from the scene of an accident involving a stone-laden lorry on Jalan Chikus–Sungai Lampam in Teluk Intan May 13, 2025. — Bernama pic For whom the bells toll As a son of a government driver, who was before that a military driver, I am not far removed from it. I also lived most of my life beside Cheras' FRU camp. Over the years, if I sit four feet up on a ladder, a grandstand view of the training ground was available. Constables beat their batons on their shields, march in formation with water cannons. Then the bell goes. They charge forward. At various political events and protests over the years, I wonder if they recognise me. The guy who saw them practise and occasionally sits at the next table at Nihmat Mamak where they gather after training. And ran away when they charged at me in the city centre, just like in training. Later the same personnel in civilian clothing pick up their kids at the nearby school. Many of the kids ride the camp trucks. In the evening there are about five tom yam restaurants competing for their ringgit, as they arrive with their families. Regular people with regular lives. Saying maybe it is not all on the lorry driver is not to dishonour the men or disrespect their families. Grief is personal, and lasts. Not for outsiders to wade into. Speaking about what happened is necessary to get to the truth, to disable a repeat. Speaking up, so our policemen are protected by modern equipment, including transport vehicles fit for purposes. In Germany and Australia there are processes and permits for police officer transportation, with buses an option. One response to an order The 10 who died were not officers, the highest rank was sergeant. They were rank and file. They were not graduates, and they were not involved in the overall governing of the police force. None would have complained if they had been brought to Teluk Intan in a bus. They'd have been delighted. But when they were told to get to point A and asked to occupy a transport vehicle, the usual typical truck not purpose built to ferry personnel, they'd comply regardless. They trust those who decide for them to do what is best for them. It was underlined in the aftermath of last week's crash, the vehicle despite being a 1997 model, almost 30 years old, was in working condition. Yes, but that is not the actual qualified question, is it? It should be whether the truck was specifically developed to transport personnel long distance and possesses necessary safety measures. The tens of thousands of lower ranked policemen require the managerial class in the service to look after them. Things cost and not spending on the people is the bigger crime. True crime Rudi the lorry driver has those deaths hanging over him. However, in other people's moral outrage, it is vital to remember that Rudi is working class, just like the police personnel killed and hurt in that tragedy. They have more in common than not. But I have one more critical bit to examine in this exposition, remove the malicious connotations, why did senior management not think enough about the safety of constables? It's about class. The same reason the great city of Kuala Lumpur, with brags on being in multiple indices about being so wonderful, does not have night buses. Not because the elites who decide are mean hearted but because they and their families do not come out from night shift at midnight and really would appreciate affordable public transportations. Or that PPR flats have little to none social programming, because our elites do not live in low-cost housing. The quality of normal public schools nose-diving is an afterthought since the government also pays for boarding schools for the elites. Or that city authorities think so little to ensure pedestrian walkways are available where non-elite Malaysians walk. On the same account of the non-elite not getting the best in life, Rudi the lorry driver is also not getting the best legal representation. Based on him initially not able to pay his bail, he may not be a priority for his not working-class company. The real crimes occur all around. But the elite are busy asking us to pick among the victims someone to blame. So we forget. * This is the personal opinion of the columnist.
The Star
19-05-2025
- The Star
FRU crash driver rearrested
In trouble again: Rudi Zulkarnain was rearrested at the Teluk Intan Magistrate's Court, shortly after having his bail posted by his employer, on suspicion of being involved in the theft of two cows. Man detained again, this time over alleged cow theft IPOH: The lorry driver who is accused of causing the deaths of nine Federal Reserve Unit (FRU) personnel in an accident in Teluk Intan last Tuesday, has been arrested again, this time for the alleged theft of two cows. Rudi Zulkarnain Md Radi, 45, was rearrested at the Teluk Intan Magistrate's Court yesterday, shortly after having his bail posted by his employer at about 12.20pm. Bagan Datuk OCPD Supt Mohammad Ali Mohd Jali said the arrest was made following a report on April 14 about two missing cows at Kampung Sungai Keli in Hutan Melintang. 'The case will be investigated under Section 379 of the Penal Code,' he said yesterday. 'We will take the suspect to court on Tuesday for a remand order to facilitate the investigations,' he said, adding that those found guilty could be jailed up to seven years or fined, or both. Rudi Zulkarnain has been in police custody since Friday after he was unable to secure bail. This was after he claimed trial to nine charges of causing death by dangerous driving at the Magistrate's Court. In the incident at Jalan Chikus-Sungai Lampam on May 13, nine personnel from the FRU lost their lives, while another nine sustained injuries. Of those who were injured, six remain in hospital – five at Teluk Intan Hospital and one at Raja Permaisuri Bainun Hospital – while the others have been discharged.
Malay Mail
19-05-2025
- Malay Mail
Accused in FRU deaths walks free 20 minutes before fresh arrest for cattle theft
KUALA LUMPUR, May 19 — A lorry driver previously charged with causing the deaths of nine Federal Reserve Unit (FRU) personnel was rearrested just 20 minutes after being released on bail today. Rudi Zulkarnain Mat Radi, 45, was detained at the bail payment counter by officers from the Criminal Investigation Division of the Bagan Datuk District Police Headquarters at around 12.20pm, Sinar Harian reported. Police arrested him to assist in an investigation into a cattle theft case under Section 379 of the Penal Code in Hutan Melintang, Bagan Datuk, which occurred in April. Earlier, the suspect had been released from the Hilir Perak District Police Headquarters lock-up after posting a bail of RM6,000 with one surety. His employer, known as Ravi, 58, and a fellow villager, Roslan, 62, respectively paid RM4,000 and RM2,000 to secure his release. On Friday, the driver pleaded not guilty at the Teluk Intan Magistrate's Court to nine charges under Section 41(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987. He was accused of driving dangerously and causing the deaths of FRU officers S Perumal, Mohd Roslan Abd Rahim, Mohd Pozli Jaudin, Nurit Pandak, Amiruddin Zabri, Mohamad Hilmi Mohd Azlan, Muhamad Akmal Muhamad, Damarrulan Abdul Latif, and Akmal Wafi Annuar at Kilometre 15, Jalan Sungai Manik, Hilir Perak at around 9.05am on 13 May 2025. Magistrate Norhamizah Shaiffudin set bail at RM6,000 for all charges, ordered the suspension of the suspect's driving licence until the case is resolved, and required him to report to the police weekly.
Free Malaysia Today
19-05-2025
- Free Malaysia Today
Lorry driver in FRU crash rearrested over cow theft case
Rudi Zulkarnain Mat Radi pleaded not guilty last Friday to driving dangerously and causing the deaths of nine FRU personnel in a crash in Teluk Intan. (Bernama pic) PETALING JAYA : The lorry driver charged with causing the deaths of nine Federal Reserve Unit personnel last Tuesday has been arrested again by the police, just 20 minutes after he finally posted bail today. Sinar Harian reported that the Bagan Datuk police's criminal investigation department rearrested Rudi Zulkarnain Mat Radi, 45, at the bail payment counter at about 12.20pm. He was reportedly held to assist in an investigation into a cow theft case which occurred in Hutan Melintang, Bagan Datuk, last month. Rudi's RM6,000 bail had been paid by his employer, allowing his short-lived release from the Hilir Perak police headquarters lock-up. He pleaded not guilty last Friday to a charge of driving dangerously and causing the deaths of the FRU personnel in a crash in Teluk Intan. The charge, under Section 41(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987, provides for a maximum jail term of 10 years, a fine of up to RM50,000, and disqualification from holding or obtaining a driving licence for no less than five years, upon conviction.
