ARAU: The Higher Education Ministry will provide RM10,000 to each family of the UiTM Dungun students who tragically lost their lives after being struck by a sports utility vehicle (SUV) yesterday.
This financial aid is part of the ministry's emergency assistance fund for the victims' families.
Deputy Higher Education Minister Datuk Mustapha Sakmud said that the ministry and UiTM Dungun were coordinating the arrangements for the victims' remains, which will be returned to their hometowns for burial.
"We have already allocated RM10,000 to each family, and we are working with the university to manage the remains and ensure they are sent home for burial," he told reporters after a talk with students at Universiti Malaysia Perlis (UniMAP) in Pauh Putra today.
Mustapha expressed his condolences to the families and urged universities to emphasise the importance of raising safety awareness among students.
"We urge not only UiTM but all public and private universities to educate their students about safety measures.
"Tragedies are often unexpected, and we have learned that the driver involved was mentally unstable, which makes this situation even more regrettable.
"Moving forward, we will enhance safety awareness among students both on and off campus, possibly through briefings before lectures or programs," he added.
In the incident yesterday, four students on two motorcycles were struck by an SUV driven by a 49-year-old woman.
The victims were identified as Ku Adib Aizad Ku Azmi, 20, and Khairil Anuar Jamaluddin, 20, both accounting students, along with Mohd Akhmal Tukirin, 20, a hospitality major.
Their friend, Mohd Ammar Danish Mohd Rodhuan, 20, who sustained severe injuries, is currently being treated at Dungun Hospital and will be transferred to Sultanah Nur Zahirah Hospital in Kuala Terengganu for further care.
The driver, believed to be mentally ill, has been remanded for four days starting today.