25/01/2026

NATIONAL 5 theSun on Sunday JAN 25, 2026 Bus in Upsi crash driven at high speed: Report KUALA LUMPUR: Video

Navy top officer remanded over alleged corruption KUALA LUMPUR: A senior Royal Malaysian Navy officer and a company director have been remanded for seven days until Jan 29 over suspected involvement in corruption relating to the appointment of crony companies. An Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) source said the senior officer is suspected of recommending and appointing a crony company to obtain work at his workplace while the company director is suspected of being an accomplice. Both suspects were arrested on Thursday after they showed up to provide their statements at the Ipoh MACC office in Perak. “Both suspects are believed to have colluded to conduct such activities from 2017 to 2020, and preliminary investigations show that the senior Navy officer is suspected to own property over the total emoluments received, including about eight assets – three houses, three shoplots and two hotels registered under their name,” the source said. – Bernama “MACC is still awaiting feedback from the banks on the account balances and expects that more accounts will be frozen once the process of tracing the flow of funds is completed.” – Bernama MACC probes RM300m fraud linked to Tan Sri PUTRAJAYA: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has opened two investigations into alleged misappropriation of nearly RM300 million in investment funds linked to an individual with the title Tan Sri. According to a source, MACC arrested two individuals and conducted searches at five premises in the Klang Valley on Wednesday and Thursday to assist in the probe. “Initial investigations found that between 2021 and 2024, nearly RM300 million was collected from about 1,700 investors for investment in two companies. “However, checks revealed that the collected funds are believed to have been misappropriated and spent for purposes other than those agreed upon in the agreement with the investors,” the source said. The Tan Sri involved is alleged to have used his position and influence to attract and influence the public to invest in the scheme. MACC Chief Commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki confirmed that the investigation is currently focusing on tracing the flow of the misappropriated funds for recovery. “The investigation also involves the expertise of the MACC Financial Analysis Division and Anti-Money Laundering Division,” he said. Azam added that 14 individual and company accounts have been frozen to aid the investigation and prevent the movement of funds suspected to be linked to the case.

‘Penetration of road barrier into vehicle cabin increased severity of passenger injuries and fatalities’

the exemption mechanism, including licence leasing or system manipulation by unlicensed operators. In addition, details of the drivers listed for the bus trip on the day of the incident did not match the actual driver involved, indicating weaknesses in physical verification and information control. Investigations also found that the driving licence of one of the drivers had expired in November 1998 and was never renewed. Both drivers also had multiple traffic summonses, including outstanding ones. – Bernama failure and excessive speed caused the bus to lose stability, skid and overturn before striking a W-beam road barrier and subsequently crashing into the rear of a multi-purpose vehicle. According to the report, penetration of the barrier into the bus cabin was identified as the primary mechanism that increased the severity of passenger injuries and fatalities, Bernama reported. Toxicology test results confirmed that the bus driver was not under the influence of alcohol, drugs or prohibited substances at the time of the incident. Investigations also found that maintenance work on the bus was carried out by a workshop that was not listed as an accredited facility, including for critical work involving the braking system and wheel hubs. “Periodic inspection records from Pusat Pemeriksaan Kenderaan Berkomputer (Puspakom) show that the bus passed an inspection at Puspakom Kota Bharu on April 13, 2025, with overall brake efficiency recorded at 59%. “But this static test was unable to detect the potential occurrence of brake fade under conditions of heavy load and high speed,” the report added. On June 9 last year, 15 Upsi students died when the chartered bus carrying them from Jerteh in Terengganu to the main university campus in Tanjung Malim in Perak was involved in a crash on the East-West Highway near Tasik Banding in Gerik. Thirteen were pronounced dead at the scene, while two others died while receiving treatment at a hospital.

analysis found that the tour bus involved in the crash that killed 15 Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (Upsi) students on June 9 last year was estimated to be travelling at a speed of more than 110kph, exceeding the safe stability limit of the vehicle for that route. The Road Transport Safety Investigation final report by the Transport Ministry Special Task Force stated that the road at the crash location was designed for a speed of about 70kph, with a regulated speed limit set at 60kph. “The analysis shows that the bus was travelling at a

bus was not equipped with a Global Positioning System, a Speed Limiting Device or a dashcam, resulting in the absence of any internal vehicle recordings. The report also stated that aggressive braking at high speed caused a sudden increase in brake component temperature, which progressively reduced braking effectiveness. The combination of brake

speed far exceeding both the design speed and the permitted speed limit, thereby surpassing the vehicle safe stability threshold on that route at the time of the incident,” the report stated. Video recordings from public vehicles near the crash site were used as an independent method to estimate the speed of the bus at the time of the incident. The report added that the

Investigations also found that maintenance work on the bus was carried out by a workshop that was not listed as an accredited facility, including for critical work involving the braking system and wheel hubs. – PIC COURTESY OF FIRE AND RESCUE DEPARTMENT Company operating vehicle without valid licence KUALA LUMPUR: The tour bus in the fatal crash at Km53 of the East-West Highway (Jeli-Gerik) in Perak was found to have been operated by a company without a valid licence or permit under the Land Public Transport Act 2010 (Act 715). which was made public, “the use of a permit by a third party without approval constitutes the leasing of a commercial vehicle licence, which contravenes Section 49(1) of Act 715 and undermines accountability in transport operations”. Ministry’s Tourism Licensing and Enforcement Division also showed that Nuratiqah Travel & Tours Sdn Bhd acted as an intermediary by submitting tour guide exemption applications for bus trips on June 8 and 9, 2025, on behalf of another operator.

Following the findings, the Land Public Transport Agency revoked the licence of Kenari Utara Travel & Tours Sdn Bhd on June 13, 2025, as the incident reflected compliance weaknesses and negatively affected governance integrity within the tourism public transport sector. “Information from the Tourism, Arts and Culture

The final Road Transport Safety Investigation Report by the Transport Ministry special task force revealed that at the time of the incident in June last year, the operating licence registered under Kenari Utara Travel & Tours Sdn Bhd had been rented out or leased to Noreen Maju Trading without authorisation from authorities. According to the report,

“Checks via the Tourism Licensing and Enforcement System found that the company submitted an unusually high number of exemption applications throughout 2025, including 27 in January and 29 in February,” the report stated. The ministry said the application pattern strongly indicated possible abuse of