Speeding on downhill bend caused Gerik bus crash, says ministry task force

Free Malaysia Today

18-07-2025

Fifteen UPSI students died in the bus crash on the Gerik-Jeli East West Highway, near Tasik Banding, on June 9. (Bernama pic)
PETALING JAYA : A preliminary report by a special task force under the transport ministry has found that the Gerik bus crash which killed 15 university students last month was mainly caused by excessive speed on a downhill bend.
It said the bus was travelling faster than the safe speed limit for the curve, which caused it to lose control and overturn on the left side of the road at KM53 of the East-West Highway.
'The vehicle overturned to the left before scraping against and crashing into a W-beam guardrail, which then penetrated the cabin space, causing severe injuries and fatalities among the passengers,' the task force said in the report.
Investigators estimated that the bus was travelling at 117.6km/h, nearly twice the 60km/h speed limit, and above the critical rollover threshold of 111.3 to 114.5km/h determined through technical analysis.
While the driver claimed there had been brake failure, investigators have not confirmed any mechanical faults so far.
Initial checks found signs of overheating in the braking system, but the report noted that this could also be due to overuse or the improper use of the brakes.
The report also flagged other contributing factors, including weak road lighting, a lack of visible road markings, and insufficient warning signs before the bend.
The guardrail that tore into the bus was found to have wider-than-allowed gaps and missing bolts, making it structurally unsound.
The bus, operated by Kenari Utara Travel & Tours Sdn Bhd which had illegally transferred its permit to a third party, also lacked basic safety systems such as passenger seat belts, an active speed limiter, and GPS tracking device.
'Checks revealed that both drivers had racked up more than 30 traffic summonses combined, many of which remained unpaid,' it added.
In response to the crash, several safety proposals were outlined including mandatory dash cams, the enforcement of seat belt requirements for all buses, and a nationwide audit of guardrails and roadside safety features.
The task force said in the report's closing remarks that the tragedy pointed to 'a systemic breakdown' that demanded comprehensive reforms by all parties involved in the public transport ecosystem.
'This incident was not solely the result of technical failure or driver error, but was also driven by weaknesses in operational structure, inappropriate driver selection, insufficient safety protections, and ineffective monitoring and enforcement systems.
'The discovery of the drivers' extensive records of traffic violations, as well as the operator's failure to conduct regular checks as required under Industrial Code of Practice, further reinforce evidence of governance failure at the organisational level,' it said.