NEWS
Remembering Malaysia’s Worst Road Tragedies, The 7 Deadliest Accidents in Our History
On May 13, Malaysians mourned the loss of nine Federal Reserve Unit (FRU) personnel who died in a tragic accident involving a gravel-laden lorry.
The accident, which occurred on Jalan Chikus–Sungai Lampam in Teluk Intan, also left nine other FRU personnel injured. At the time, the group was part of a seven-vehicle convoy returning to Ipoh after completing their duties for the Chitrapournami festival.
But did you know this tragic incident bears an eerie resemblance to another involving an FRU unit 35 years ago? Let’s take a look back at the 1990 FRU crash and some of the deadliest road accidents ever recorded in Malaysia.
1. The 1990 FRU crash
On February 28, 1990, a convoy of five FRU vehicles collided with an express bus that had gone out of control due to brake failure.
Before the head-on collision, the bus had also struck two civilian cars. According to The Star, the impact drove the FRU truck beneath the bus, which was then hit by a fuel tanker attempting to avoid the crash.
The accident, which occurred at KM31 of the Kuala Lumpur–Karak Highway, claimed the lives of 11 FRU personnel—five died at the scene, while six others succumbed to their injuries at Kuala Lumpur Hospital. Tragically, four civilians also lost their lives.
At the time, the FRU officers from Troop 4B were en route to Kuala Terengganu for an operational readiness drill from the Police Training Centre (Pulapol) in Kuala Lumpur.
2. 1996 Genting Highlands bus crash
What was supposed to be a fun three-day company vacation turned tragic when a bus carrying employees of plastic manufacturing firm Malaysia Daichi Sdn Bhd and their families plunged into a 120-metre ravine near Genting Highlands.
The incident, which occurred in July 1996, killed at least 17 people, including seven children. According to a survivor, the bus driver shouted that the brakes had failed seconds before the crash.
“The roads were slippery because it was raining. At the second bend, the driver lost control, and the bus swerved before falling into the ravine,” she said, as reported by UPI.
3. Bukit Gantang 2007 tragedy
On August 13, 2007, 20 people died and nine others were injured after an express bus lost control and overturned at KM229 of the North–South Expressway near Bukit Gantang, Perak. The bus was en route to Alor Setar from Johor Bahru.
The impact was so severe that the roof of the bus was torn off, ejecting some passengers. A police investigation later revealed that the bus driver, who died at the scene, had 13 summonses and two arrest warrants for traffic offenses. The bus operator had previously received 19 summonses.
4. 2010 Multi-vehicle crash near Simpang Ampat toll
October 10, 2010, may have been a memorable date, but it also marked a deadly crash involving two buses, a van, and two cars. The multi-vehicle collision at KM223 of the North–South Expressway near the Simpang Ampat toll plaza claimed 13 lives.
At the time, the Delima express bus, en route to Kuala Lumpur from Melaka, was reportedly speeding before losing control. It struck the rear of a car, swerved into the opposite lane, and ploughed into other vehicles.
5. Cameron Highlands double-decker bus crash (2010)
Another horrific accident occurred on December 20, 2010. A double-decker bus carrying 37 passengers—mostly Thai tourists—lost control while navigating a sharp bend in Cameron Highlands.
The bus smashed into a divider, somersaulted, and landed upside down in a ditch. The impact was so violent that the roof was sheared off, and several passengers were flung from the vehicle. Twenty-seven people were killed, including three Malaysians: the bus driver, his assistant, and a tour guide.
6. 2009 Sani Express bus tragedy
On December 26, 2009, 10 of the 48 passengers aboard a double-decker Sani Express bus were killed when it crashed into a road divider at KM272.8 of the PLUS Expressway.
The bus was traveling from Klang, Selangor, to Kuala Perlis. A survivor claimed the driver appeared sleepy and that the vehicle was swerving just before the crash.
7. 2013 Genting Highlands bus crash
One of the worst road accidents in Malaysian history occurred on August 21, 2013, when an express bus plunged 70 metres down a ravine near Genting Highlands, killing 37 people and injuring 16 others.
The bus was carrying 53 passengers, including locals and tourists from China, Bangladesh, and Thailand. It lost control while descending a steep road about 2 kilometers from Chin Swee Caves Temple. Reports later revealed the bus had exceeded its maximum capacity of 44 passengers.
Featured Image Credit: The Star, The Sun
Featured Image Credit: The Star, The Sun