Three Bangladeshi nationals were killed and two others injured in a tragic road accident on Malaysia’s East Coast Highway near Kuantan in the state of Pahang on Friday evening.
The deceased have been identified as Md Saber Hasan, 30, Md Zahid Hasan, 21, and Abdullah, 24. All three were pronounced dead at the scene, according to local media reports citing Malaysian police.
The accident took place around 7:30pm local time on August 1, when a Toyota Avanza travelling from Kuantan to Kuala Lumpur lost control and veered off the highway near the 213.4 kilometre marker.
Kuantan District Police Acting Chief Superintendent Mohd Adli Mat Daud told reporters that the driver of the vehicle, Md Saber Hasan, did not possess a valid driving licence, and that the road tax of the vehicle had expired in May.
Two other Bangladeshi passengers — Md Habib Biswas, 45, and Maniram Chandrabas, 40 — sustained injuries and were rushed to Tengku Ampuan Afzan Hospital in Kuantan. Their condition was reported to be stable as of Saturday morning.
According to the Malaysian daily Berita Harian, initial investigation suggests the accident occurred when the driver lost control of the seven-seater MPV, possibly due to poor road grip and overloading, although a mechanical inspection is underway to rule out vehicle malfunction.
Local police have confirmed that all five individuals were migrant workers and that efforts are underway to contact their employers and next of kin in Bangladesh. The Bangladesh High Commission in Kuala Lumpur has been informed and is coordinating repatriation procedures for the deceased.
Malaysian authorities reiterated their warning for all motorists, especially foreign workers, to ensure their vehicles are roadworthy and registered before undertaking long-distance travel. Driving without a valid licence or expired documentation is a punishable offence under Malaysian traffic laws.
The case is being investigated under Section 41(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987 for causing death by reckless driving.