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Top 5 at 5: Why Did The Gerik Bus Crash?

Masria Mustafa, Associate Professor at the Faculty of Civil Engineering, Universiti Teknologi MARA

30-Jan-26 17:00

Top 5 at 5: Why Did The Gerik Bus Crash?

Investigations into the devastating bus accident in Gerik last year, which claimed the lives of 15 UPSI students, found that brake failure, speeding, and driver actions were the main causes. The report also highlighted systemic failings, including poor maintenance oversight and weak industry regulation. The question now is, what reforms are needed to prevent another tragedy on our roads? (Starts at 23:16)

• E-waste corruption crackdown: Top officials from Malaysia’s Department of Environment, including its director‑general and deputy director‑general, have been arrested under MACC’s Operation Nature for alleged corruption in handling e‑waste. We spoke to Wong Pui Yi, researcher with the Basel Action Network, about the significance of these arrests and the risks posed by e‑waste corruption. (Starts at 15:46)

• Is workplace bullying becoming a silent problem?: Despite over 13,000 labour complaints last year, none officially cited workplace bullying. This is a gap experts say reflects under‑reporting rather than absence, as employees often fear retaliation or lack awareness of their rights, while employers hesitate to classify incidents to avoid liability. We discuss why bullying often goes unreported, and what needs to change for workplaces to take it seriously. (Starts at 11:21)

• Securing Malaysia's food security: The government has unveiled the National Food Security Act to safeguard long‑term food supplies against climate change, rising costs, and global uncertainties. The plan aims to modernise agriculture, support farmers and fishermen, and promote smart farming with drones and AI. We hear thoughts from Professor Datuk Dr M Nasir Shamsudin of Putra Business School. (Starts at 6:59)

• Unequal pay at the Women's Asian Cup: The Asian Football Confederation confirmed there will be no prize money increase for the Women’s Asian Cup, leaving a US$13m gap compared to the men’s tournament. Despite player pleas and growing revenues, the disparity remains. We discussed why progress is so slow. (Starts at 0:22)

Image Credit: Shutterstock

Produced by: Sneha Harikannan, Sudais Ferhard, Tee Shiao Eek, Alia Zefri

Presented by: Lee Chwi Lynn, Dashran Yohan


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Categories:  environmentcorruptionLaw/ActivismsportsfoodcontroversiesCars/Motoringgovernmentthe workplace

Tags:  Gerik bus accident investigationUPSI student bus crashRoad safety reforms MalaysiaPublic transport regulation MalaysiaE-waste corruption MalaysiaMACC Operation NatureWorkplace bullying MalaysiaLabour rights and workplace safetyNational Food Security Act MalaysiaGender pay gap in Asian football





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