So the claim by the driver that the brakes weren't working before the crash was disputed by Puspakom.

It is likely the driver was just driving too fast as claimed by several students that were lucky to be alive, though I'm not sure about the story of the driver trying the brakes for about 1 minute or more reporting that the brakes weren't working.

Also, as an add-on, even before the Puspakom report came out, the claim of a brake failure was highly suspicious, especially when the driver claimed that he miraculously manoeuvred the vehicle for more than 1 minute, which is a long time, without the brakes before crashing the bus. I am not sure about the conditions of the roads where the mishap took place. However, based on logical thinking, if the driver was driving within speed limit and at a leisurely pace without speeding, he would surely know the condition of the brakes whether it's in good or poor condition. I mean, how can the brakes suddenly just fail like that. It just sounds like a movie where someone cut the hoses or something where the brakes just suddently don't work at all even though you apply full force to the brakes. It just doesn't make sense.

Well, say even though the brakes really don't work anymore, depending on the conditions of the road the driver would surely be able to just let the vehicle cruise slowly to a halt UNLESS it's all the way downhill road like Genting HIghlands. Anyway, all the speculation is of no use anymore as the report has already proven that the brakes were indeed working, and this has also proven that the driver is not honest with his earlier claims.

Of course, as we all understand he will need to say something to defend himself for the great disaster which he had caused in the earlier stages when all focus was on him. I presume he has no choice but to just give an excuse despite knowing it's not the truth.

I don't post on Kopitiam as I find the language there different where I find difficulty understanding what that was posted.

It doesn't make sense? How does air brake system work? What is the most likely cause of failure if both air tanks for brakes has no pressure and the clutch booster to shift gear not working? How long would the air brake system work without the pressure being replenished by the air compressor? What was checked by the preliminary visual inspection and what they haven't check in full forensic investigation? Did they turn the engine on and check the air brake system functions from air compressor all the way to the brake chamber? The bau hangit smell since the town of Tanah Merah, where does it came from? Is it overheating brake lining or something else like oil starvation of the air compressor or leaked gasket of air compressor?

These are remaining questions that need to be answered including the following eyewitness account of a passenger sitting directly behind the driver (tv3 interview) :

Full Interview Transcript (English Translation):

Reporter: Can you share your position in the bus?

Zaty: I was seated behind the driver, the frontmost seat on the right-hand side. I was asleep since we left Jerteh — slept all the way. Before the incident happened, I woke up. I felt something was wrong. Why was the bus going so fast? But at that time, I just thought positively.

The speed felt odd, especially going downhill toward Gerik. Next to me, there was a handrail in the bus; I grabbed it because it was going really fast. I nudged the person next to me, held her hand. The bus was speeding out of control — no brakes, nothing could be done.

Reporter: So you already noticed the bus was swaying or unstable?

Zaty: Yes, it felt unstable because the driver was swerving to avoid cars. With that speed, he was avoiding cars. I thought to myself, “Why is he swerving so fast?”

I heard the driver and the assistant shouting. The driver said, “I can’t do anything anymore… I’ve pressed the air (brake), I’ve pressed the brakes!”

At that moment, I couldn’t do anything; there was a big lorry ahead. The bus was speeding — I held the rail tightly. Luckily, he managed to avoid the lorry, but right after that, there was a bend and cars in front. He had lost control… eventually the bus overturned.

When I opened my eyes, I was already on the floor. I immediately got out; I left everything behind. My body was shaking as I got out of the bus.

Reporter: It was early morning, before dawn. Did you manage to scream or wake anyone up at the back?

Zaty: I couldn’t. I only managed to shake the person next to me. I couldn’t say anything because of the speed. She asked me, “Why is it so fast?” I didn’t know. I just held onto her.

Link: tv3 interview

Yes, you are right. The location of the crash is marked '+' and it is all the way downhill since they already passed the Titiwangsa R&R stop.



This post has been edited by KarchKiraly: Jun 21 2025, 05:09 AM

How old is the driver and how many years of driving where he accumulated those 18 speeding tickets? If he didn't pay those 18 tickets over long period of time, pretty sure he'll get blacklisted and can't renew his driving license.

This post has been edited by KarchKiraly: Jun 21 2025, 05:18 AM

We can estimate the final speed if we can refer to road side markers parallel to the bus and the time stamp. Something like 0.8 seconds between the opening of access road to telco tower to the fifth post of the guard rail. Distance covered maybe 4 m + 0.6 m + (5x1.91m) = 14.15 m. Thus the final speed is perhaps, v = 14.15 m ÷ 0.8 s = 17.7 m/s = 63.7 km/h plus minus maybe 5 km/h. So, maybe it is somewhere between 58.7 km/h to 68.7 km/h as we are only estimating the distance.

This guy you give him sports car also driving like a mad man, sure the brakes system heat up until no more function.

It was already mentioned in the Puspakom report as below.

Malaysia fatal bus crash: Report confirms bus brakes were functional

PETALING JAYA – The brakes on the bus involved in the crash that killed 15 Sultan Idris Education University (UPSI) students were in working condition, according to vehicle company Puspakom.

Puspakom’s preliminary technical report, released on June 14, indicated that an inspection of the brakes, lining and drums showed no signs of wear. “Inspection of the air compressor tank also found there was no air pressure leakage,” the report stated. The tyres were also found to be in satisfactory condition and compliant with the road transport department specifications. Additionally, the steering and suspension system were deemed satisfactory.
However, the report noted that the leaf spring and shock absorbers were misaligned, possibly due to the accident.

“Based on observations and technical investigations, there is no evidence showing mechanical failure was the cause of the accident,” it added,

Air compressor tank... not the air compressor itself which is near the engine. Have they turn on the engine and run the air compressor? Have they verified what is the cause why driver cannot downshift? Which indicate loss of pressure is before the tank. Most likely the tanks are 4 & 5. Air compressor is 1. No 6 is the 4 way valve that supply air to the tanks and also 21 provide air to clutch booster. I am not saying they didn't check, but static visual inspection by puspakom will not reveal systemic failure. Perhaps more detail forensic investigation by miros will reveal more. Including the source of the smell from Tanah Merah, which most likely not overheated brake lining as the bus was on relatively flat route. Could it be oil starvation, overheated compressor and gasket failure of the air compresor? They will know for sure once they turn on the engine and let it run the air compressor.

Right now there are two possibilities i. Driver was speeding and lost control and ii. Driver finally lost control due to air brake system failure and after he avoided several vehicles. Or maybe a 3rd one, driver was speeding before no ii. Hard to dismiss no ii since there is an eyewitness account of this who sit directly behind the driver. And need to check validity of driver's claim of BOTH brake failure and gear shifting failure, which could suggest the there is no air pressure supply from the air compressor.



This post has been edited by KarchKiraly: Jun 21 2025, 01:42 PM