GENTING HIGHLANDS: A busload of passengers cheated death after the bus they were in skidded, crashed into two cars before landing on its side at Km4.8 Jalan Genting Highlands here yesterday.

The passengers -- 22 Singaporeans and five Malaysians -- suffered minor injuries and received outpatient treatment at Kuala Lumpur Hospital.

Bentong police chief Superintendent Rosli Abdul Rahman said the bus was heading towards Kuala Lumpur when it developed brake problems at about 3.30pm.

He said the bus was travelling downhill when it collided with a Proton Gen-2, skidded to the opposite side of the road and crashed into a Nissan Sentra, before hitting the road barrier and landing on its side.

Rosli said all passengers were helped out of the wreck by passers-by and taken to hospital.
The driver, identified as Rajan Manan, blamed the incident on brake failure.

"I realised there was a problem with the brakes when the bus did not slow down when I applied the brakes, but by then it was too late."

The 41-year-old was trapped in the wreck and had to be pulled out by Fire and Rescue Department personnel.

Rajan has been a driver for the past 13 years.