The government will ensure that all efforts are taken to bring back the remains of victims in the bus accident in Chiang Mai and that assistance are provided to the family members of the victims.
Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak made the commitment and expressed condolences to the families of the victims his Facebook and Twitter accounts tonight.
In the accident which happened in northern Thailand this morning, 13 Malaysians were killed and nine others injured when the tour bus they were travelling in, collided with a pick-up truck.
Malaysian Ambassador to Thailand, Nazirah Hussin, when contacted, confirmed that there were a total of 22 Malaysians, as well as other unidentified nationalities in the bus when the mishap occurred at 11.30am local time (12.30pm Malaysian time).
"We are still waiting for confirmation on the identities of the victims before we can contact their next-of kin in Malaysia.
"According to my source, the Malaysians are from Johor," she said.
Meanwhile, Wisma Putra in a statement today said Malaysian Embassy in Bangkok was working closely with the Thailand authorities in rendering the necessary consular assistance to those injured as well as contacting the next of kin of the Malaysian victims.
The Foreign Ministry also extended its deepest condolences to the families and friends of those who perished in the accident.
In Johor Baru, Chiu Travel Sdn Bhd general manager, Terence Yung, confirmed that all the 22 Malaysians involved in the accident were from Batu Pahat, Johor.
"We received the sad news that the transportation vehicle of our Chiang Mai Tour Group which departed on Dec 17 (Thursday) was involved in the accident," Yung said when contacted by Bernama here tonight.
All those injured were taken to five hospitals in Chiang Mai, he said.
"At the moment, we are trying to obtain the list of the injured from our Thai representative. Please, rest assured, we will be updating all families regularly and extend our fullest assistance," said Yung.
He said the company would also arrange for the victims' family members to go to Thailand.
For enquiries, family members can contact the company's representatives Terence Yung (019-758 2311), Melissa Yung (016-232 3193) or office (07-433 5599/433 5588/431 5797).
Meanwhile, dpa reported police saying they are investigating the cause of the accident, but noted that the area was known for blind turns on mountain passes.
Thailand has some of the most dangerous roads in the world. A 2013 study by the University of Michigan found that the country came only behind Namibia in accidental road deaths, the German wire agency added.
- Bernama
