THE early morning bus crash near Gerik took the llives of thirteen victims at the scene, with two more succumbing to injuries while receiving treatment at Hospital Gerik. The injured, including the bus driver and a bus attendant, are currently receiving medical care.
Perak Police Chief Datuk Noor Hisam Nordin said investigations are ongoing under Section 41(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987, with attention focused on both driver negligence and possible mechanical failure.
"We are examining whether this tragedy was caused by human error or technical issues. Every aspect will be scrutinised in detail, including the physical condition of the vehicle, the driver’s qualifications, past traffic summonses, and speed at the time of the incident," he said during a press conference at the Gerik District Police Headquarters today.
The crash occurred on a dark, winding downhill stretch of road, with limited street lighting apart from the vicinity of the Tasik Banding bridge. Noor Hisam did not rule out the possibility that the road’s geography contributed to the crash.
"This accident happened at night. Preliminary reports show the bus collided with the rear of a Perodua Alza belonging to the district police headquarters, which was also heading towards Gerik. It was not a head-on collision," he clarified.
The driver's statement has not yet been recorded, as he is undergoing treatment for a hand injury. A forensic investigation of the bus will be carried out with the assistance of PUSPAKOM, MIROS, and the Road Transport Department (JPJ).
"A total of 13 bodies have been sent to Raja Permaisuri Bainun Hospital, while the remaining two were taken to Gerik Hospital. Another 27 students — 23 female and four male — sustained injuries in the incident. The 40-year-old bus driver and his 54-year-old assistant were also injured," he said .
Post-mortem examinations of the deceased are being conducted at both Hospital Raja Permaisuri Bainun in Ipoh and Hospital Gerik. The identification process is expected to take time due to the number of victims involved.
Authorities in Perak have launched a comprehensive investigation into a fatal crash involving a chartered bus carrying students from Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI), which claimed the lives of 15 individuals early on Sunday.
The incident occurred along the East-West Highway in Banun, Gerik, near Tasik Banding. The bus, transporting 44 people—42 of whom were UPSI students aged between 21 and 23—was returning to the Tanjung Malim campus from Jertih, Terengganu, following Aidiladha celebrations.
A forensic investigation of the bus will be carried out with the assistance of PUSPAKOM, MIROS, and the Road Transport Department (JPJ).
Earlier, Minister of Higher Education, Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir, confirmed the deaths of 15 univercity students and stated that assistance is being coordinated for the victims’ families in collaboration with Ungku Omar Polytechnic, Ipoh, and Gerik Community College.
"I am on the way to the Ipoh hospital to meet the victims’ families. I ask that we all pray for ease in our affairs and for all the families involved. May they be granted strength and patience. Insya-Allah, the Ministry of Higher Education and UPSI have deployed whatever form of aid to be given to all those involved. UPSI has also set up an operations room with a hotline," he posted on social media.
The Ministry of Higher Education has confirmed that fifteen students from Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI) lost their lives in the early morning bus crash in Gerik, Perak.
Dr Zambry described the incident as "one of the most heartbreaking tragedies in the history of the institution".
He added that the ministry is currently coordinating various forms of immediate assistance for the families of the victims, including accommodation arrangements, as they remain in Perak for the identification and funeral processes. - June 9, 2025
