Gerik tragedy fallout: Bus firm faces wave of cancellations

New Straits Times

11-06-2025

KOTA BARU: The bus company involved in the tragic Gerik accident, which claimed the lives of 15 Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI) students, has reported a significant number of booking cancellations.
The company's operations officer, Mohd Nazri Nawi, acknowledged the cancellations, saying that most were for chartered services scheduled in July and August.
"We accept these cancellations with an open heart, understanding the situation in light of the recent tragedy," he said when contacted.
Despite the cancellations, Mohd Nazri said that the company continued to operate as usual, with domestic bookings proceeding without disruption.
"As of today, our company — which operates more than five buses — remains in service. We will continue running the business for as long as we are permitted to do so," he added.
He said that, at present, the company had not received any official notification from the authorities regarding the suspension of its operations.
"We are still awaiting further instructions," he said.
It was reported earlier today that all permits held by the tour bus company involved in the fatal crash in Gerik, Perak, have been revoked with immediate effect due to multiple breaches of permit conditions.
Transport Minister Anthony Loke said the company had committed two major offences — leasing its operating permit to a third party and failing to activate the vehicle's GPS tracking system.
"The permit holder, based in Kedah, had leased the permit to an operator in Kelantan for RM500 a month," he said.
The incident, which occurred early Monday, shocked the nation. A tour bus carrying 42 UPSI students from Jerteh, Terengganu, to Tanjung Malim, Perak, collided with a Perodua Alza multi-purpose vehicle along the East–West Highway (JRTB) near Tasik Banding, Gerik.
Fifteen students were killed in the crash.