In the 7.45am incident, Ibrahim Daud, 71, died along with his wife, Latipah Dorahim, 66, daughter-in-law, Syazana Tharin, 30, and grandson, Yusuff Daniel Muhammad Izwan, 5.

Another grandson, aged two, is being treated at Melaka Hospital.

Ibrahim’s son, Izwan, 30, who was driving a multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) escaped unhurt while the driver of the other vehicle, Koh Eng Koon, 59, suffered minor injuries.

Alor Gajah police chief Arshad Abu said preliminary investigations found that the six family members were heading for Alor Gajah from Selandar.

The other driver, who was in a four-wheel drive, was travelling to Selandar from Durian Tunggal.

“The accident was believed to have occurred when the MPV tried to avoid the four-wheel drive which had pulled into its path at a junction,” he said in a statement.

He said Ibrahim died at the scene while the other three died while receiving treatment at Alor Gajah Hospital.

“Preliminary investigations found the victims were on their way to Langkawi to celebrate Ibrahim’s birthday,” he said.

When met by reporters at Alor Gajah Hospital’s forensic unit here, Ibrahim’s youngest brother, Osman, 62, said his late brother was excited about going to Langkawi for a holiday as it was his birthday today.

“He had been talking about celebrating his birthday in Langkawi since last week.

“When he came over to my restaurant for breakfast, he paid for every customer before going home to get ready to travel to KLIA to catch his flight to Langkawi,” he said.