KUALA LUMPUR – The operating permit of the bus company involved in Monday’s crash that killed 15 Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI) students has been revoked with immediate effect after it was found to have illegally leased the vehicle to a third party.
Transport Minister Anthony Loke said the Kedah-based operator had leased the permit to a company in Kelantan for RM500 a month, violating conditions of its licence.
“The leasing agreement breached permit conditions. I have instructed the Land Public Transport Agency (APAD) to revoke the company’s permit once the show-cause period ends,” he said at a press conference at Angkasapuri today, flanked by Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil and Works Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi, Bernama reported.
The chartered bus was carrying UPSI students from Jertih to their main campus in Tanjung Malim, Perak, when it overturned after colliding with a Perodua Alza at KM53 of the East-West Highway near Tasik Banding, Gerik.
Besides the 15 fatalities, 33 people were injured, including the bus driver and co-driver, as well as the Alza’s driver and three passengers.
Loke also revealed that the company failed to activate the bus’s global positioning system (GPS).
“They were unable to produce the GPS report because the system was not in use – a serious violation,” he said. “As such, the operator’s licence has been revoked with no right to appeal.”
On claims by the driver that brake failure caused the crash, Loke said dashcam footage showed the bus speeding and overtaking before veering off the road. He said a full forensic investigation would be conducted to verify the claims.
In response to the crash, the government also announced it will develop a national database for express and tour bus drivers to ensure safer public transport operations.
Loke said the new system, to be developed by APAD, would provide operators with access to drivers’ employment history and records.
“Currently, we only have licence information. There’s no way for companies to know if a driver was previously sacked for negligence,” he said.
This system, he added, will prevent drivers who lack integrity from simply switching employers undetected.
He added that the preliminary report into the May 13 crash involving nine federal reserve unit (FRU) personnel in Perak will be published on the Transport Ministry’s website tomorrow.
The report includes findings from the Road Transport Department and vehicle inspection agency Puspakom.
The incident saw nine Unit 5 FRU officers from Sungai Senam, Ipoh killed when a lorry crashed into their truck along Jalan Chikus-Sungai Lampam as they were returning from duty in Teluk Intan. — June 11, 2025