A devastating road accident early Tuesday morning claimed the lives of at least 15 people after a bus carrying university students collided with a multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) on the East-West Highway near Tasik Banding in Perak state.
The crash occurred at approximately 1:10 a.m. on June 9, involving a bus transporting students from Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI) and an MPV, according to local authorities and Malaysian media reports.
The bus was en route from Jerteh in Terengganu to UPSI’s main campus in Tanjung Malim, Perak, when it reportedly struck the rear of the MPV before losing control and overturning on the highway. The MPV was found abandoned in a ditch nearby, officials said.
A total of 48 individuals were involved in the incident, including 42 students, four passengers in the MPV, the bus driver, and an attendant, said Sabarodzi Nor Ahmad, assistant operations director of the Perak Fire and Rescue Department. Emergency responders arrived on the scene nearly an hour after the crash to find the bus overturned and several victims trapped inside.
“We found some victims had managed to escape on their own, others were thrown from the bus, and unfortunately, some remained trapped,” Sabarodzi explained. Rescue teams had to use hydraulic cutting equipment to free six people still inside the wreckage.
Among those involved, 33 individuals sustained injuries ranging from minor wounds to broken limbs. Investigators are currently probing whether human error or mechanical failure caused the collision, according to Perak police chief Noor Hisam Nordin.
Most of the students aboard the bus were from Terengganu and were returning to campus after celebrating Hari Raya Haji with their families, UPSI Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Student Affairs and Alumni Professor Norkhalid Salimin said. The students had gathered in Jerteh before chartering the bus for the journey back to Tanjung Malim.
Eyewitness accounts described the aftermath as chaotic and heart-wrenching. One man, who rushed to assist the victims, recalled scenes of panic and distress, with injured passengers crying out for help and urging friends to recite the shahadah, the Islamic declaration of faith.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim expressed his condolences and called on the Ministry of Higher Education to coordinate support for the families of the victims. In a Facebook post, the Prime Minister and his wife, Datuk Seri Dr. Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, extended heartfelt sympathies and urged Malaysians to exercise caution on the roads.
“This tragedy highlights the crucial importance of road safety,” Anwar wrote. “Lives are precious and irreplaceable. Let this be a reminder to us all to drive carefully and avoid rushing.”
Higher Education Minister Dr. Zambry Abd Kadir also expressed sorrow over the incident and assured that the ministry would offer full assistance to those affected by the tragedy.
The investigation into the cause of the crash continues as authorities work to bring clarity and justice to this heartbreaking incident.
