SHAH ALAM - The Bukit Kajang toll accident on Sept 27 has shaken the nation after claiming the life of 12-month-old Amir Husayn, an In-Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) baby whose parents waited nearly a decade for his arrival.
Eight others were also injured in the four-vehicle collision, sparking grief, outrage and calls for accountability.
While police are investigating whether a three-tonne lorry transporting scrap iron suffered a brake failure or whether reckless driving caused the crash, for one family the tragedy has already left an irreplaceable loss.
What happened at the Bukit Kajang toll
According to the Selangor Fire and Rescue Department, a three-tonne lorry ploughed into three vehicles - a Nissan X-Trail belonging to the Public Works Department (JKR), a Honda City and a Proton X70 at about 11am.
The lorry driver jumped out, claiming the vehicle’s brakes had failed.
Inside one of the cars was 12-month-old Amir Husayn, who was thrown from his family’s vehicle and later found trapped beneath the four-wheel drive.
Despite rescue efforts, medical officers pronounced him dead at the scene.
Seven to eight others were injured and rushed to hospitals in Kajang, Serdang and KPJ Kajang for treatment.
A decade-long journey to parenthood cut short
Amir’s father, Amirul Ridzuan Abu Bakar, 39, and mother Nurul Husna Khairuddin, 38, had spent almost 10 years trying to have children.
“Since we married in 2013, my wife and I tried nearly a decade to have children,” Amirul said.
Their dream finally came true after IVF treatment, and on May 20 last year, they welcomed twin boys. “
Amir Husayn was born just 15 seconds after his brother, Amir Hasan,” Amirul shared.
Now, only Amir Hasan survives, while his twin brother’s life was cut tragically short.
Transport Minister’s safety reminder
On Sept 29, Transport Minister Anthony Loke addressed the tragedy, highlighting a painful but critical safety lesson: the child was not secured in a child safety seat at the time of the crash.
“Our initial report, based on cross-checks with police, shows that the baby was not placed in a child seat,” Loke said at a press conference after launching the Gombak Integrated Terminal, citing preliminary police findings.
He stressed that his comments were not intended to blame the grieving parents, but to remind the public about the life-saving importance of proper child restraints, an issue the ministry has repeatedly promoted despite pushback.
Loke added that if a child seat had been used, the baby would likely not have been ejected from the vehicle and might have survived.
“I am not drawing conclusions, but at the very least, a child seat provides additional safety features that can save lives and protect passengers,” he said.
Driver’s account and police action
Kajang district police chief ACP Naazron Abdul Yusof said the lorry driver claimed he jumped from the vehicle due to brake failure.
The 42-year-old driver, who has prior criminal records and traffic summonses, was arrested and remanded.
His urine test came back negative for drugs and alcohol.
The lorry, last serviced in April 2025, will undergo a full technical inspection to determine whether the brakes truly failed.
Police are investigating under Section 41(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987, which covers reckless or dangerous driving causing death.
What investigators are checking
Police and technical agencies are looking into: whether the brakes truly failed or other factors caused the crash, the lorry’s maintenance history and whether it was overloaded, closed-circuit television (CCTV) and toll plaza footage for sequence verification and witness testimony, including from the lorry’s employer.
If a mechanical failure is proven and tied to poor maintenance, the vehicle owner or operator may face regulatory or civil action. If driver negligence is established, criminal charges are likely.
The human toll and public reaction
Amir’s mother, grandmother and several relatives were among the injured but have since been discharged from Serdang Hospital. Others remain warded for further care.
Meanwhile, on social media, Malaysians flooded platforms with grief and anger.
Many called the tragedy preventable and demanded stricter enforcement on heavy vehicles.
Others expressed sympathy for the parents, especially as Amir Husayn was an IVF baby and twin.
One user wrote that the parents’ pain was unimaginable after waiting 10 years for their children. Another called it a “national heartbreak,” urging reforms in road safety.
The Bukit Kajang crash has grown beyond a single accident, sparking conversations about vehicle safety standards, driver accountability and child passenger protection.