Govt Moves To Tighten FRU Vehicle Safety After Teluk Intan Crash

The Transport Ministry has submitted a proposal to the Cabinet to improve the safety of vehicles used by the country’s security forces, following the tragic accident in May that killed nine Federal Reserve Unit (FRU) personnel in Teluk Intan.

Its Minister Anthony Loke said the ministry had worked with the Home Ministry (KDN) and Defence Ministry (MINDEF) to review the findings and recommend improvements. 

He stressed that both ministries will now need to take follow-up action.

“This matter definitely needs to be resolved with the ministries involved. We can provide reports and suggestions, but ultimately, the ones who have to take action are the ministries involved, namely KDN and also MINDEF.

“There are definitely challenges, and we also need time to implement them because they require various retrofitting measures, maybe even the purchase of new vehicles and so on,” Loke said in a Bernama report.

The proposals include 16 safety recommendations covering six key areas, such as installing seat belts for all seats in government vehicles, improving compliance with the Industry Code of Practice (ICOP) for Road Transport Safety, and strengthening related transport laws.

The fatal crash on May 13 occurred when a gravel-laden lorry crossed into the opposite lane and collided with the FRU truck along Jalan Chikus-Sungai Lampam, Teluk Intan. 

A special task force report later found that the lorry had exceeded 70% of its permitted weight.

Investigations ruled out mechanical failure, pointing instead to poor compliance and weak supervision by the lorry operator.

Nine FRU personnel were killed and nine others injured in the 8.45am crash and it has since prompted the government to push for tougher safety standards for official vehicles.