IPOH: There is a heaviness in the air as family members of those who died in the tragic accident on the East-West Highway make their way to the Raja Permaisuri Bainun Hospital mortuary.
With each truck that brought the remains of their loved ones to the mortuary, cries and wails echoed, while some sobbed uncontrollably.
Others were just stone-faced and drawn with grief.
Members of the media were not allowed to enter the mortuary compound and could only witness events from afar.
A total of 15 Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI) students were killed in the accident.
Najiba Zahir, the sister-in-law of Lili Suzana Mat Yaakob, one of the 33 people who were injured in the crash, said the 23-year-old UPSI student had originally planned to take a different bus that was to depart on Monday night.
“She was not supposed to be on the ill-fated trip back to Tanjung Malim. She decided to travel earlier due to a class scheduled for today,” said the 30-year-old while fighting back tears.
“We didn’t expect her bus to take the Gerik route. It usually goes through Gua Musang, but perhaps the route was changed due to traffic,” she added.
Najiba said she got to know that Lili Suzana was involved in the accident through WhatsApp and Facebook.
“I rushed over from Penang with my husband after learning of the accident and that my sister-in-law was among the injured,” she said, adding that Lili Suzana was now being treated at the Raja Permaisuri Bainun Hospital.
“She has no bleeding in the head, thank God,” she said.
“The doctors are planning to do a scan, but she’s stable.”
Student Mohd Alif Nasnawi, 21, said he had tried to contact two of his friends who were on the bus since early morning.
The agricultural science student said his friends, Muhd Adib Hazim Halim and Norayuni Maslan, both 21 and from Terengganu, were supposed to arrive at their campus at about 5am.
“After hearing about the accident, I tried to call their mobile phones numerous time but they went unanswered.
“I was getting anxious and then my heart broke when I heard the devastating news that they didn’t make it,” he said.
“I last spoke to Adib on Friday. I had asked him about buying a shirt for one of our courses. He’s usually quiet, only spoke when he needed to,” he added.
Alif said it is common for university students, especially those from Kelantan and Terengganu, to charter buses when returning to campus.
“It’s normal, especially after holidays,” he added.
Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad could not contain his sadness after visiting the affected families.
He told reporters that support would be available for the affected families.
“UPSI has counselling services available and I hope they find some comfort and strength in accepting this as part of Allah’s will,” he added.
Saarani also said the state government would allocate RM1,000 to each of the affected families.
“The financial aid is small, but we hope it helps cover basic needs, such as accommodation for the family, food or other expenses.
“We know not every family is financially well-off and this is the least we can do to ease their burden,” he said.
