2025 Gerik bus crash

On 9 June 2025, 15 students from Sultan Idris Education University (UPSI) were killed and 33 others injured when a privately chartered bus collided with an MPV along the East–West Highway near Gerik, Perak, Malaysia.^[2] The bus was returning to the university's campus in Tanjong Malim after the Eid al-Adha holiday break.^[3] The incident was the deadliest road accident in Malaysia since the 2013 Genting Highlands bus crash.^[4]

Preliminary findings from investigations suggested human error or road conditions as likely factors for the crash.^[5][1] The bus driver, a 39-year old man, was charged in court with 15 counts of dangerous driving and one count of reckless driving, although he pleaded not guilty. The crash generated significant public discourse in Malaysia, with public figures and citizens across the nation expressing their condolences.^[4]

The East-West Highway along Gerik, Perak, is a two-lane road without a central divider along most of its length.^[6] It passes through hilly terrain and dense forest,^[7] with sharp bends and steep gradients.^[8] The area frequently experiences thick fog and heavy rainfall, reducing visibility and affecting vehicle control. The road is narrow and lacks key safety features such as emergency lanes and climbing lanes.^[6] Street lighting is limited, particularly at night and near sharp corners.^[9]

Poor maintenance around the highway further contributed to road hazards, with potholes and overgrown vegetation obstructing drivers' views. Over 70 percent of the highway was reportedly in critical condition.^[10] Government resurfacing efforts have been sporadic and do not cover the entire route. The highway's structure, which is nearly 60 years old, shows extensive wear, with most past repairs consisting of temporary patchwork solutions.^[6][10]

In 2023, the road was officially identified as requiring major upgrading and rehabilitation. In June, the government, through the Ministry of Works, allocated RM30 million for reconstruction efforts.^[11] This was followed by an additional RM30 million announced by prime minister Anwar Ibrahim in August, bringing the total allocation to RM60 million.^[12] Of this, RM55.73 million was used for phased upgrading works between July and August 2023.^[11] These included resurfacing, bridge repairs, and improvements to street lighting and traffic signals in critical areas, based on a pavement condition assessment.

In 2024, a further RM7.2 million was allocated for continued repair works at other sections of the highway.^[11]

The bus involved in the crash was a Hino RK1JSLL/J08C-TK tour bus bearing the registration plate PLD 8892, operated by Kenari Utara Travel & Tours Sdn Bhd, a private limited company incorporated in Malaysia in 2008. The company holds a valid license to conduct travel and tour services. The bus was purchased in 2013 and remained legally eligible for use as a tour vehicle for another five years.^[13] It had reportedly undergone routine servicing as recently as May 2025.^[14] However, as it was manufactured before the implementation of post-2020 safety regulations, the bus was not equipped with passenger seat belts.^[15]

The journey was privately arranged by a group of students from Sultan Idris Education University (UPSI) to return to their main campus in Tanjong Malim, Perak, following the end of the Eid al-Adha holiday break.^[16] The students had independently chartered the bus for a long-distance interstate trip, which began in Jerteh, Terengganu, on the night of 8 June 2025.^[3] A total of 44 individuals were on board the bus, comprising 42 students, the bus driver, and an attendant. The journey was expected to take approximately more than six hours, covering hundreds of kilometres along the East–West Highway.

On the night of 8 June 2025, the bus departed from Hadhari Mosque in Jerteh at approximately 9 pm MST. Around 1 am on 9 June, the bus was traveling along the East–West Highway near Kilometre 53 of the Gerik–Jeli stretch when it crashed.^[17] A survivor reported that the crash occurred when most passengers were asleep.^[18] Before the crash, the driver was reportedly "agitated" and was shouting, managing to avoid several vehicles when it sped downhill.^{[19][20][21][22]}

Dashcam footage from a nearby vehicle revealed that the bus was speeding and attempting to overtake another car on a dark, downhill and winding section of the road.^[23] The driver lost control of the vehicle, causing it to flip to the left and collide with the rear of a Perodua Alza MPV that was traveling in the same direction. The impact caused the MPV, which carried four occupants, to spin and swerve into the opposite lane, while the bus veered off the road, struck roadside railings that failed to halt its momentum and overturned near a ravine.^[24] Many passengers were violently ejected from the bus, landing in a ditch alongside the road.^[24] Witnesses described the crash site as "chaotic and dangerous", with parts of the bus mangled and a risk of fire, which a passing driver attempted to prevent by trying to shut off the engine, though no fire ultimately broke out.^[25]

At approximately 1:10 am, the incident was reported to the Hulu Perak District Operations Control Centre of the Malaysia Civil Defence Force (APM) by Gerik Hospital.^[17] Emergency responders from various agencies, including the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM), Fire and Rescue Departments from Gerik and Jeli, APM and medical personnel from Gerik Hospital, arrived at the scene few minutes later. Firefighters had to cut open the rear of the overturned bus to rescue trapped passengers, while rescue efforts were hampered by the terrain, darkness, and the position of the wreckage.^[26] Six victims were found inside the bus and were extricated before being handed over to medical personnel for further treatment.^[17] The police led traffic control and the initial investigation, coordinating closely with all involved teams to secure the area and provide aid.

In total, 48 individuals were involved in the crash. Thirteen UPSI students died at the scene, and two more victims succumbed to their injuries later at the hospital, raising the death toll to 15. The remaining 33 people sustained varying levels of injuries and were rushed to Gerik Hospital for urgent medical treatment.^[27][28]

The fatalities of the crash were:^[29][30]

1. Nurul Izyanti Muhamad Azahar

2. Wan Nur Suhaila Wan Muhammad

3. Muhammad Adib Hazim Halim

4. Nurul Fatihah Abu Setaman

5. Muhammad Mustaqim Rosde

6. Nur Ainul Qistina Mat Ali

7. Nur Dalila Farhana Mohamad Isma

8. Nurly Sahirah Azman

9. Sufea Adela Maslihaizan

10. Nik Amni Nadiah Nik Nor Zabir

11. Mohammad Aqil Taqiuddin Mohd Sofian

12. Fatin Nasrien Fadli

13. Nor Ayuni Maslan

14. Anis Soffiyya Md Zaidi

15. Fakhrul Arif Rosdi

By late evening on the day of the crash, all 15 bodies were identified.^[31] Most post-mortems were conducted at Raja Permaisuri Bainun Hospital in Ipoh,^[32] with two carried out at Gerik Hospital, where the injured victims received treatment. The four occupants of the MPV survived with less serious injuries and were treated in Baling.^[33] Funerals for all the deceased were held in Jerteh with an exception for a victim in Setiu.^[34]

The incident sparked widespread public reaction across Malaysia. Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim expressed heartfelt sympathy to the families of the victims and instructed the Higher Education Ministry to coordinate appropriate assistance.^[35] Higher education minister Zambry Abdul Kadir announced that accommodation assistance for the victims' families was being coordinated with Ungku Omar Polytechnic in Ipoh and Gerik Community College.^[36] Zambry also contributed his one month's salary as a gesture of solidarity. UPSI responded by establishing a special operations room to publish updates related to the crash and to handle inquiries from the victims' families and the public.^[37]

On 16 June, the higher education ministry held a Majlis Tahlil Perdana ('Grand Memorial Prayer') to commemorate the victims of the crash. The ceremony was attended by over 1,500 individuals, including the higher education minister Zambry Abdul Kadir, Perak Menteri Besar Saarani Mohamad and chief secretary to the government Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar. During the event, more than RM2 million in contributions — collected from various agencies and corporate bodies — were presented to be channelled to the families of the deceased and those who were injured. A special fund, known as "Tabung KPT Prihatin", administered by UPSI, was established to assist the families and victims affected by the crash. As of 16 June, the fund collected RM1.7 million, contributed by over 40 public and private higher education institutions, including polytechnics, community colleges, state government agencies, financial institutions, and corporate entities. The fund was disbursed in stages to eligible recipients and was closed on 20 June.^[38]

Perak's ruler Nazrin Shah emphasised the need for "preventative measures to avoid future tragedies".^[39] Religious affairs minister Mohd Na'im Mokhtar described the students as fi sabilillah ('for the cause of Allah') emphasising their status as "seekers of knowledge in the path of Allah, which in Islam is a highly regarded pursuit." Law minister Azalina Othman Said said that "companies as a whole must be held accountable — not just bus drivers — when accidents occur due to managerial negligence or failure to comply with safety standards." She emphasised the need for legislation similar to the Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act 2007 in the United Kingdom to be introduced in Malaysia, in order to ensure broader corporate accountability, including that of managers, engineers, and board members. According to her, "companies should not place the blame solely on lower-level employees, particularly when those individuals operate under the direction and responsibility of the organisation. Such legislation could help prevent future tragedies and ensure justice is served for victims."^[40]

The crash sparked calls for reform to Malaysia's road safety laws through protests and on social media. Concerns were raised about road infrastructure, with some experts warning that certain road furniture might have worsened accidents. Authorities were urged to adopt safer technologies and upgrade outdated systems. The Fire and Rescue Department also reviewed the need for a new station near the crash-prone route, as existing response times were limited by distance.

Social media platforms such as X were flooded with messages of condolences, with the hashtags #UPSIberduka ('UPSI in mourning'), #TragediGerik ('Gerik tragedy'), #DoaUntukUPSI ('prayers for UPSI'), and #AlFatihah becoming widely used among Malaysian users.^[41] Prayer gatherings and tahlil ceremonies were organised at mosques and institutions of higher education across the country. In addition to emotional support, several government agencies, non-governmental organisations and public bodies — including the Social Security Organisation (PERKESO) — announced initiatives to provide both moral and financial assistance to the families of the deceased and injured. The student representative council of Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) raised RM290,651 through contributions from 18,927 individuals which was distributed to the families of the victims and the students affected by the crash. UPSI Vice-Chancellor Md Amin Md Taff emphasised the importance of ensuring that students injured in the crash in Gerik are not left behind in their studies and receive full academic support, calling on deans and lecturers to assist the affected students, including those currently receiving treatment in hospital or recovering at home, by making use of the existing flexible learning system. Meanwhile, more than 200 individuals attended the blood donation centre at Raja Permaisuri Bainun Hospital, following reports of a shortage of blood types A and B. The hospital had appealed to the public to donate blood to help meet the needs of patients involved in the crash.

Following the crash, a multi-agency investigation has been launched to determine the exact cause of the incident.

The Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) announced the formation of a special task force to probe the crash in collaboration with the Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (MIROS), the Road Transport Department (JPJ), the Land Public Transport Agency (APAD), and other relevant authorities.^[5] Initial investigations revealed that the bus overturned after colliding with a Perodua Alza.^[42] Survivors reported smelling a "burning odour" and said that the bus was speeding.^[17] The following day, the injured bus driver said that the vehicle's brakes had failed and that he had attempted to avoid hitting four other vehicles before colliding with the MPV.^[43]

Transport minister Anthony Loke warned the bus driver not to make premature claims about the cause of the crash.^[44] He emphasised that "the cause of the accident had not yet been established" and that "it could be attributed either to road conditions or driver error".^[44] The crash site was reportedly "dark at night and located in a highland area often shrouded in mist".^[45][44] Loke confirmed that a detailed investigation was underway and said that the bus's braking system had already been examined by Puspakom.^[44] He cautioned against accepting the driver's statements at face value, saying that "mechanical tests would confirm the validity of his claims".^[45] Loke also mentioned that dashcam footage had surfaced showing the bus speeding while overtaking and that an audit of the bus company revealed a failure to meet safety standards.^[46]

The driver's prior offences became a factor in the investigation. It was found that the bus driver had 18 traffic summonses; 13 of which were for speeding.^[47][48][49] The remaining summonses included one for a previous accident, three for failing to wear a seatbelt, and one for a missing third brake light. Meanwhile, the bus itself had 21 traffic offences, with 16 already adjudicated and five still under investigation.^[48][49] According to police, the special task force would conduct a thorough investigation covering the driver's record, background, conduct, and employment history.^[5] They confirmed that the charges could be brought against the driver once the investigation is complete.^[50]

On 11 June, the police had recorded statements from 18 individuals to assist in the investigation. These included 13 surviving UPSI students who had been discharged from hospital, the driver of the MPV involved in the collision, a forensic doctor from Gerik Hospital, the MPV driver's wife (still receiving treatment), and a dashcam owner whose footage went viral.^[51][52][53] However, the police had yet to obtain a statement from the bus driver as he remained hospitalised. A remand application would be submitted once he was discharged.^[54] Blood samples from the driver had been sent to the chemistry department for analysis.^[54] Perak police chief Noor Hisam Nordin confirmed that the police were working closely with JPJ, the chemistry department, the public works department (JKR), and the Bukit Aman forensics division to conduct a detailed investigation.^[54] The dashcam footage was also being analysed by experts to confirm its authenticity, as the video's quality was unclear.^[55][56] On 12 June, the 39-year-old driver was detained after being discharged from Taiping Hospital and would be investigated under Section 41(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987 for reckless driving causing death.^[57] The driver, who only sustained injuries to his hand, is scheduled to be charged the following day at the Magistrates' Court in Gerik.^[50][58][59]

In a related development, claims circulated on social media suggesting that the operating company, Syarikat Kenari Utara, had hired a lorry driver as a substitute for the bus trip. However, the company denied these allegations.^[60] The company's operations officer, Mohd Nazri Nawi, claimed that the replacement driver had "extensive experience operating express buses and a clean record free from any criminal or drug-related offences". He said that the original driver was on leave due to family matters, and the company had conducted "thorough screening" before appointing a replacement driver from another bus company.^[61] That said, preliminary investigations revealed that the company had breached various permit conditions and regulations set by the authorities. Loke revealed that the permit holder had illegally sublet the vehicle permit to a third party without approval and had failed to ensure the vehicle's GPS system was functioning.^[46] These were identified as two serious violations of the land public transport agency's permit requirements.^[62] The permit owner, registered in Kedah, had leased the permit to an individual from Kelantan for a monthly fee of RM500.^[63]

As a result of these breaches, the company's operating license and all associated vehicle permits were immediately revoked.^[64][46] On 11 June, police recorded a statement from the company owner, and statements were also taken from 18 other witnesses, including students from UPSI.^[65][66] On 12 June, Loke further revealed that the company had failed to comply with all seven mandatory components of the safety inspection and audit.^[67][68] These failures included the absence of a safety supervisor, inadequate GPS monitoring of drivers, failure to adhere to driving time limits and rest periods, lack of an emergency response plan, and the absence of a hotline.^[62] He instructed the Road Transport Department to open an investigation paper into the company, with legal action pending — including the possibility of prosecuting the company owner for failing to adhere to safety and operational regulations.^[69] Loke emphasised that "even if the operator is not the driver, they still bear full responsibility in ensuring the safe operation of their bus company."^[62]

On 13 June, the bus driver, Mohd Amirul Fadhil Zulkifli was charged with 15 counts of dangerous driving and one of reckless driving. He pleaded not guilty and was released on RM19,000 bail with conditions including a driving ban. A Puspakom report found no mechanical faults that caused the crash. JPJ later suspended his vocational licence and opened investigations into the bus operators.

• List of traffic collisions (2000–present)