Police believe that the express bus crash at Km15 of the Cameron Highlands-Simpang Pulai road on Monday in which 27 people were killed, mostly Thai tourists, was due to driver factor and technical problems of the bus.

Perak police deputy chief Zakaria Yusof who said this, also denied that the accident could have been caused by the road's oily patches.

"However, it is up to the Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (Miros), Puspakom and Commercial Vehicle Licensing Board to determine the cause of the accident," he told a press conference in Ipoh today.

Twenty-five Thai tourists and two Malaysians, comprising the bus driver and tour guide, were killed while another 10 Thai tourists were injured in the 11.40am accident.

It was the worst road accident in the history of the country.

Driver buried today

Meanwhile, Omar Shahidan, 48, the driver of the express bus killed in the crash, was buried at the Tok Seri Mani Muslim cemetery, Jalan Raja Muda, Kangar, today.

His body arrived at his house in Behor Empiang early today and was buried next to the grave of his father, Shahidan Mat, who died three years ago from a heart attack.

Omar and 26 others were killed when the double-decker bus belonging to San Express Holidays skidded, breached the concrete divider, overturned and crashed into a rocky slope.

Omar leaves a wife, Puspalela Ramli, 45, two daughters, Siti Nazirah, 20, and Siti Hazaratul Shamimi, 18, and Mohd Hairul Nizam, 13.

Among those who came to pay their last respects at Omar's house was Perlis Menteri Besar Dr Md Isa Sabu.

- Bernama