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New Straits Times
11-06-2025
- New Straits Times
Gerik tragedy fallout: Bus firm faces wave of cancellations
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reported earlier today that all permits held by the tour bus company involved in the fatal crash in Gerik, Perak, have been revoked with immediate effect due to multiple breaches of permit conditions.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.
Malay Mail
09-06-2025
- Malay Mail
‘We don't hire at random': UPSI student bus firm denies claims it used lorry driver as back-up
KOTA BHARU, June 9 — The owner of the company that operated the bus involved in this morning's fatal accident on the East-West Highway near Tasik Banding in Gerik, Perak, has denied allegations that his firm used a lorry driver as a back-up driver. The accident claimed the lives of 15 Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI) students. Syarikat Kenari Utara operations officer Mohd Nazri Nawi dismissed the allegations, saying they had carried out proper scrutiny and vetting processes before hiring him to replace one of the original drivers, who was still on leave. 'I don't know how this allegation surfaced or who it was who claimed that we hired a lorry driver as the replacement driver. We have never hired bus drivers at random without proper vetting. 'We admit that the replacement driver was from another bus company, but he is an experienced bus driver and has driven long distances. Not a lorry driver as alleged,' he told reporters at the Noreen Group Operations Office in Tunjong here today. Elaborating, Mohd Nazri said both the drivers involved in ferrying the UPSI students have clean records and never used any illegal substances. He added that, so far, based on the information received, the first driver, who works for his company, suffered a broken arm while the replacement driver is in a critical condition. 'I am not sure whether the first driver or the back-up driver was at the wheel when the incident happened,' he said, adding that he was informed of the accident at about 1 am. 'I then rushed to the location but could not meet them as they were undergoing treatment. I was only told that they will be referred to the Taiping Hospital,' he said. He also hopes that the public will stop speculating about the accident and let the authorities conduct the investigations, adding that they will give their full cooperation. — Bernama
