A tragic bus crash in Malaysia's Perak state on June 9, 2025, has left 15 university students dead and dozens more injured. The incident occurred in the early hours of the morning along the East-West Highway in Banun, Gerik, and involved a bus carrying students from Sultan Idris Education University (UPSI) and a Perodua Alza multi-purpose vehicle (MPV).
According to Perak police chief Noor Hisam Nordin, preliminary investigations revealed that the bus rear-ended the MPV before losing control and overturning. The Ministry of Higher Education confirmed that 15 students were killed in the crash. The bus had been privately chartered and was carrying 42 students aged between 21 and 23. It was traveling from Jerteh, Terengganu to the UPSI main campus in Tanjung Malim, Perak.
The Hulu Perak Civil Defence Force received an emergency call about the incident at approximately 1.10am. Upon arriving at the scene, they found the bus overturned and the MPV in a ditch. In total, 48 people were involved in the crash, including 42 students, four MPV occupants, and the bus driver and attendant.
Thirteen victims were pronounced dead at the scene, while two more succumbed to their injuries in hospital. Two victims are currently in critical condition, 20 in semi-critical condition, and six in stable condition, according to the New Straits Times. The injured victims reportedly suffered broken arms, legs, and other injuries.
Malaysia Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim expressed his condolences to the families of the victims and has ordered an investigation into the crash. He also instructed the Higher Education Ministry to provide support to the victims' families.
Higher Education Minister Zambry Abdul Kadir, speaking at a press conference on the same day, announced financial aid measures and confirmed that 13 bodies had arrived at Raja Permaisuri Bainun Hospital in Ipoh for post-mortem procedures, while two were sent to Gerik Hospital.
The four occupants of the Perodua Alza, a 37-year-old man, his 36-year-old wife, and their two young children aged six and two — were among the injured and were taken to Baling Hospital in Kedah.
Perak Fire and Rescue Department director Sayani Saidon explained that both the bus and the MPV were traveling from Jeli to Gerik. The collision caused the bus to overturn and the MPV to slide into a ditch. Some passengers were thrown from the bus, others escaped on their own, and some remained trapped inside. Emergency responders had to cut open the rear section of the bus using hydraulic tools to extract victims.
The bus driver was also injured and has not yet provided a statement to police. The investigation is currently being conducted under Section 41(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987 for causing death by dangerous driving.
Police noted that the road where the crash occurred is winding and sloped, with poor lighting conditions except near Tasik Banding. However, it remains too early to determine if these conditions contributed to the accident.
Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Student Affairs and Alumni of UPSI, Norkhalid Salimin, confirmed that the majority of the students were returning to campus after the Aidiladha break.
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