EXTREME overloading, weak operational control and the absence of basic safety features in a tipper lorry were among the key causes of the fatal crash that killed nine Federal Reserve Unit (FRU) personnel in Teluk Intan on 13 May, according to the Transport Ministry’s final investigation report released today.
The 156-page report by the Special Task Force on Road Transport Safety Investigation revealed that the tipper lorry was carrying 40,960kg of gravel—exceeding the permitted load limit of 24,000kg by 70.67 per cent. The report also found that limited enforcement had created a high-risk environment leading to the fatal accident.
“This accident resulted from a combination of technical, human, organisational and policy enforcement gaps,” the report stated.
At the time of the collision, the FRU lorry was part of a convoy of seven vehicles—four lorries, two sport utility vehicles and a bus—travelling towards Ipoh. The overloaded tipper lorry, bearing registration number AKL4674, was heading in the opposite direction towards Teluk Intan.
“The tipper lorry entered the opposite lane used by the FRU convoy and collided with the FRU lorry. Both vehicles overturned onto their left sides following the impact,” the report said.
The crash occurred along Jalan Chikus–Sungai Lampam (A122), a two-lane state road connecting routes A16 and Federal Route 109. The site is located near a T-junction with an additional turning lane towards Ipoh via route A149.
The investigation found that the lorry’s excessive weight not only breached Section 57(1)(b)(vi) of the Land Public Transport Act 2010 (APAD Act) and Rule 89 of the Motor Vehicles Rules but also critically impaired its driving performance.
The report explained that the lorry’s excessive mass significantly increased its kinetic energy, thereby amplifying the impact force of the collision.
“For example, a lorry with a permissible weight of 24,000kg travelling at 30km/h generates about 833kJ of kinetic energy, whereas the same lorry carrying 40,960kg produces 1,422kJ—almost double. This directly heightens the risk of severe or fatal injuries,” it said.
Overloading also reduces braking efficiency and vehicle stability, particularly during emergency situations.
Although the task force’s physical inspection found that the tipper lorry’s tyres, brakes and suspension were in good condition, its steering system could not be fully assessed due to extensive damage. The lorry’s dimensions and cargo guard complied with approved technical specifications.
However, investigators discovered that the vehicle was transporting gravel instead of coal, in breach of Section 57(1)(b)(iii) of the Land Public Transport Act 2010, which restricts the lorry’s operations to coal transport only.
The findings have prompted the Transport Ministry to issue several safety recommendations to relevant agencies, focusing on stricter enforcement against overloading, improved monitoring of commercial vehicle operations, and stronger accountability within the logistics and construction sectors.
The May crash, one of Malaysia’s deadliest road tragedies in recent years, claimed the lives of nine FRU officers and sparked widespread calls for tighter regulation of heavy vehicle operations on state roads. - October 31, 2025
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