PUTRAJAYA — Thirteen of the 15 Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI) students who were killed in the recent bus crash in Gerik had active National Higher Education Fund Corporation (PTPTN) loans, the Higher Education Ministry confirmed today.
Their debts will now be fully written off under PTPTN’s Group Takaful Protection Scheme, said Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir in a Facebook post.
“In addition, their next of kin will each receive a death benefit of RM1,500,” he said.
The fatal crash occurred between 12.30am and 1.00am on June 9, when a chartered bus carrying students from Jertih to Tanjung Malim overturned after a collision with a Perodua Alza along the East-West Highway near Tasik Banding.
The incident also left 33 people injured, including the bus driver and co-driver, as well as the driver and three passengers of the Alza. — June 11, 2025