THE driver of the Perodua Alza involved in the tragic crash with a Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI) student bus near Tasik Banding has been discharged from hospital, along with his two-year-old son. His wife and daughter remain warded but are reported to be in stable condition.
State Health Committee chairman Mansor Zakaria confirmed that Mohd Lutfi Radzi, 37, had completed treatment and is staying on at the hospital to support his wife Nurul Ain Zakaria, 36, and their six-year-old daughter, Nur Aisyah Nafishah.
"According to Baling Hospital, the driver and his two-year-old son, Muhammad Ahsan Nafis, have been treated and discharged. His wife Nurul Ain Zakaria, 36, and daughter Nur Aisyah Nafishah, 6, are still receiving treatment," he told the New Straits Times.
The collision, which took place in the early hours along the East-West Highway (Jalan Raya Timur-Barat) near Gerik, claimed 15 lives — 15 UPSI students — and left 27 others injured. The bus had been travelling from Jerteh, Besut, to Tanjung Malim, Perak, carrying 42 students and two drivers.
In a statement at the scene, a representative from the bus company said all vehicle inspection protocols had been followed prior to departure.
The bus had been chartered by the student group for their return journey from the east coast after the Aidiladha holidays.
“I was informed that the driver last night was a replacement, as the original driver was on leave to attend a family event. However, both are permanent staff of our company, not external or subcontracted drivers,” he said.
He added that the route from the east coast to UPSI was a regular service operated by the company. The same bus had previously transported the students to the east coast before the holiday period.
“Our buses departed Besut at around 9pm. It is routine for us to use this route for student transport,” he added.
On the night of the crash, three other express buses from the same company were also en route, carrying UPSI students with similar departure times and destinations.
The company acknowledged receiving preliminary reports suggesting the bus may have experienced brake failure, but this has not been confirmed.
“We were also told a tyre might have burst, but upon inspection, there were no signs of tyre damage,” the representative said.
The wreckage has since been towed by a recovery team from Tanah Merah, Kelantan, to the Gerik District Police Headquarters for further investigation. The company has pledged full cooperation with the authorities.
The collision is believed to have occurred when the bus struck the rear of the Alza MPV, lost control, overturned, and collided with the central divider.
Both the bus driver, aged 40, and his assistant, aged 54, were among the injured.
Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir described the incident as one of the most heartbreaking tragedies in the history of the institution. - June 9, 2025
