Tanker driver, still hospitalised, charged with murder over Pahang crash that wiped out young family on Merdeka Day

The 52-year-old tanker driver, undergoing treatment for serious injuries, was charged with causing the deaths of Muhammad Nazatullah Nazmi, Nur Atiqah Sofiya Mohd Kazwan, Muhammad Armaan Nazeef Muhammad Nazatullah and Seow Beng Wai in a collision on the East Coast Expressway on August 31, 2026. — Picture from Facebook/Hospital Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah

First Published: Friday, 11 Sep 2026 4:23 PM MYT

TEMERLOH, Sept 11 — A cement tanker driver receiving treatment at Hospital Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah was charged today with four counts of murder over a crash that killed four people on Aug 31.

No plea was recorded from the accused, Zulkarnain Md Noh, 52, after the charges were read before Magistrate Nuur Fakhizaa Abu Bakar, as the case falls under the High Court’s jurisdiction.

Zulkarnain is accused of having caused the deaths of Muhammad Nazatullah Nazmi, Nur Atiqah Sofiya Mohd Kazwan, Muhammad Armaan Nazeef Muhammad Nazatullah and Seow Beng Wai.

The offences were allegedly committed at about 10.30pm on Aug 31 at KM110.3 of the East Coast Expressway (LPT) eastbound.

He was charged under Section 302 of the Penal Code (Act 574), which carries the death penalty, or imprisonment of between 30 and 40 years and not less than 12 strokes of the cane, upon conviction.

Deputy public prosecutors Najimi Arif Nasarudin and Anis Syakilla Zawawi appeared for the prosecution, while the accused was unrepresented.

Magistrate Nuur Fakhizaa set Nov 12 for document submission and mention.

On Sept 1, four people were killed after a cement-laden tanker was believed to have lost control and crashed into several other vehicles that were moving slowly at the location.

Acting Pahang police chief Datuk Azry Akmar Ayob was reported to have said the three victims travelling in a Proton S70 were a married couple, Muhammad Nazatullah and Nur Atiqah Sofiya, and their son, while Seow Beng Wai was a passenger in a Honda CR-V.

He said Seow’s son, Sebastian Seow Jhen, 18, who was driving the Honda CR-V, and the tanker driver sustained serious injuries and were treated at Hospital Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah in Temerloh.

The drivers and passengers of eight other vehicles, including an express bus, a Toyota Hilux, a Toyota Alphard and five other cars, suffered minor injuries. — Bernama