MALAYSIA: The bus involved in a fatal crash in Gerik that killed 15 university students was “clearly speeding,” Perak police said, citing dashcam footage from another vehicle on the road.
Survivors of the accident have also said the bus was travelling at high speed before the crash. However, the bus driver has denied this, claiming that the brakes had failed.
The incident occurred early on Monday (9 June) along the East-West Highway in Banun, Gerik. The chartered bus was ferrying students from Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI).
Perak police chief Noor Hisam Nordin said the footage showed the bus attempting to overtake another vehicle before veering off to the left side of the road and overturning.
“The recording clearly shows how the bus was speeding. What made matters worse was when a road barrier penetrated the front of the bus after it toppled over,” he told reporters, as quoted by Free Malaysia Today (FMT).
“This is why passengers seated on the left side of the bus were among those who lost their lives because the barrier penetrated all the way to the passenger seats,” he added.
A 40-second viral video of the dashcam footage, widely shared on social media, shows the bus overtaking before swerving to the left and crashing.
Noor Hisam said authorities are seeking a remand order for the bus driver once he is discharged from Taiping Hospital, local media reported.
Driver Denies Speeding, Cites Brake Failure
Despite police findings, the bus driver, Mohd Amirul Fadhil Zulkifle, denied allegations of speeding, claiming instead that the crash was caused by sudden brake failure while descending a hilly stretch of the highway near the elephant crossing bridge in Gerik.
“I apologise to all the victims’ families and the students involved in the accident,” he told Harian Metro from his hospital bed in Taiping Hospital, Perak.
“What happened was because the bus brakes suddenly failed.”
According to Amirul, the bus, which departed from Terengganu en route to UPSI’s main campus in Tanjung Malim, was functioning normally until the brakes failed without warning.
“At that moment, I tried everything I could, but since the bus had no air pressure left, nothing worked — not even the handbrake or the gear shift,” he said.
Amirul claimed that he did his best to avoid crashing into other vehicles as the bus sped downhill uncontrollably.
“As far as I remember, I managed to avoid four vehicles, including a lorry, before the accident happened. The last vehicle I overtook was a car with a dashcam, and by then I was doing everything I could to prevent a worse situation,” he said.
“People saw me speeding and overtaking, but the truth is, I was trying to avoid crashing into them. Unfortunately, it was a winding road, and I couldn’t do anything more.”
The 39-year-old, who has been driving buses since 2016, also claimed that he shouted to warn the students aboard once the brakes failed.
Driver Has 18 Traffic Summonses, Bus Has 21
Further investigations revealed that the driver had been issued 18 traffic summonses, including 13 for speeding.
Bukit Aman Traffic Investigation and Enforcement Department director Datuk Seri Mohd Yusri Hassan Basri confirmed that the remaining offences were related to not wearing a seatbelt, not having a third brake light, and being involved in an accident.
He added that the bus itself had a record of 21 traffic summonses.
While 16 have been settled, five remain under investigation.
In response to the incident, the police will establish a special task force to conduct a thorough investigation with the Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (MIROS), the Road Transport Department (JPJ), the Land Public Transport Agency (APAD), and other relevant agencies.
“We will complete the investigation papers as soon as possible to charge the bus driver in court. We will investigate various aspects, including his offence record, background, activities, and career history,” said Mohd Yusri.
Government Vows Swift Action on Road Safety
In the aftermath of the crash, Transport Minister Anthony Loke pledged swift action to address growing safety concerns along the East-West Highway.
Speaking to the media on Tuesday (10 June), Loke said the issue of road safety would be raised in a Cabinet meeting to discuss immediate steps.
“When it comes to road safety, it is a serious matter, so we need to work together with other ministries,” he said, noting that the highway falls under the jurisdiction of the Works Ministry.
Loke also acknowledged public criticism over the outdated condition of road barriers, with many Malaysians comparing them unfavourably to modern fibre-based systems used in other countries, the New Straits Times reported.
Besides improving road barriers, Loke said his ministry would also assist with the installation of solar-powered lamps along the highway to improve visibility.
On the investigation into the crash, Loke said that both the police and the Road Transport Department (JPJ) were involved.
While the police will focus on possible criminal elements, JPJ will carry out a technical inspection and safety audit of the bus company.
The Land Public Transport Agency (APAD) has also issued a show cause letter to the bus operator, requesting data, including the vehicle’s GPS record.
“We need their GPS record to determine whether the vehicle was speeding during that period. Secondly, we will conduct an audit on the company to check compliance with safety measures,” Loke said.
“I do not want to jump to conclusions. We have to be fair, so any investigations must be based on facts,” he added, urging the public to allow authorities to complete their investigations before drawing conclusions.
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