JPJ to Take Further Action Against Bus Operator in Fatal UPSI Crash

The express bus operator involved in last month’s fatal crash that killed 15 Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI) students is facing further action, according to the Road Transport Department (JPJ).

JPJ director-general Datuk Aedy Fadly Ramli said the decision follows preliminary findings from the Transport Ministry’s Special Task Force investigating the tragedy.

"The company’s operating licence under the Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) has already been revoked. And more actions are on the way,” he says in a Bernama report.

Aedy also confirmed that legal proceedings against the bus driver are still ongoing.

“At this point, we’re not stepping in. The matter is still with the police and the courts. If the driver is found guilty, the appropriate legal action will be handled by PDRM and the judiciary,” Aedy stated.

He further added that long-term road safety solutions require more than isolated enforcement.

“This isn’t just about one agency. We need a coordinated, system-wide effort,” he stressed. The deadly crash happened on June 9, when a bus carrying 42 university students from Jertih, Terengganu to Tanjung Malim, Perak veered off the East-West Highway near Tasik Banding, Gerik.

Reports revealed the bus was travelling nearly twice the speed limit. The task force also flagged broader problems such as poor oversight, weak regulatory enforcement, and operator non-compliance across the board.

In response, JPJ has stepped up enforcement on passenger safety, launching a special seat belt compliance operation for buses and commercial vehicles starting July 1.

So far, 1,274 compound notices have been issued, over 1,000 of them to passengers who failed to wear seat belts.

That includes 878 express bus passengers, 107 on tour buses, and 15 in cargo vehicles. On the drivers' side, 262 were penalised. It includes 205 cargo drivers, 33 express bus drivers, and 24 tour bus drivers.

Additionally, 12 express buses were found without proper seat belt fittings.