KUALA LUMPUR – Police have urged the driver of the express bus involved in the fatal crash near Gerik that killed 15 Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI) students to refrain from making any public statements while investigations are ongoing.
Perak police chief Datuk Noor Hisam Nordin said any premature remarks could lead to unwarranted speculation and potentially interfere with the investigation.
“We’re concerned that anything he says might disrupt the investigation. That’s the term – disrupt the investigation,” he told reporters during a press conference at the Perak police headquarters today, as reported by Berita Harian.
Noor Hisam said it would be best for the 39-year-old driver to wait until the authorities complete their probe before speaking to the media or the public.
When asked whether the driver had been directly warned by police not to make statements, Noor Hisam clarified that officers could only advise him.
“Our investigating officer is heading there this morning. We can only advise, we can’t compel him. He has freedom of speech – this is a free country,” he said.
“But we urge him to be patient and wait until his official statement is recorded. After that, he can say whatever he wants.
“There are many angles to this investigation – the condition of the bus, the operator, road conditions. It’s highly technical. So, it’s best to let the authorities do their job rather than jump to conclusions or speculate.”
Noor Hisam added that the investigation findings would be made public once available.
He also confirmed that the driver, who sustained injuries to his hand, is still receiving treatment at Taiping Hospital. Police will only proceed with further action once he has recovered.
Earlier, Noor Hisam said the driver would be remanded once discharged from hospital.
It was also revealed that the driver has 18 outstanding traffic summonses, including 13 for speeding, one for a prior accident, three for not wearing a seatbelt, and one for a faulty third brake light.
On Monday, the nation was shaken by the tragic accident that claimed the lives of 15 UPSI students when a chartered bus travelling from Jertih, Terengganu to Tanjung Malim, Perak overturned after colliding with another vehicle along the East-West Highway near Tasik Banding, Gerik.
The crash also left 33 others injured, including the bus driver, his assistant, and the driver and three passengers of a Perodua Alza multipurpose vehicle (MPV).
The four members of the family in the MPV survived with injuries and are currently being treated at Baling Hospital in Kedah. – June 11, 2025