Gerik: The owner of the company that operated the bus involved in this morning’s fatal accident on the East-West Highway near Tasik Banding in Gerik, Perak, has denied allegations that his firm used a lorry driver as a back-up driver. The accident claimed the lives of 15 Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI) students.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Syarikat Kenari Utara operations officer Mohd Nazri Nawi dismissed the allegations, emphasizing that the company had conducted thorough scrutiny and vetting processes before hiring the replacement driver. This driver was brought in to substitute for one of the original drivers who was still on leave.

Mohd Nazri stated, “I don’t know how this allegation surfaced or who it was who claimed that we hired a lorry driver as the replacement driver. We have never hired bus drivers at random without proper vetting.” He clarified that while the replacement driver was from another bus company, he was an experienced bus driver and not a lorry driver as alleged.

Further elaborating, Mohd Nazri mentioned that both drivers involved in ferrying the UPSI students have clean records and have never used illegal substances. Based on the information received, the first driver, who works for Syarikat Kenari Utara, suffered a broken arm, while the replacement driver is in critical condition.

Mohd Nazri expressed uncertainty regarding which driver was at the wheel when the incident occurred, adding that he was informed about the accident at around 1 am. He rushed to the location but could not meet the drivers as they were undergoing treatment and were set to be referred to Taiping Hospital.

He urged the public to refrain from speculating about the accident and to allow the authorities to conduct their investigations, assuring that the company would provide full cooperation.