S Anand Kumar, 32, was charged under Section 41(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987 with causing death by reckless or dangerous driving, and Section 26(1) of the same act with driving without a valid licence.

Section 41(1) provides for a maximum jail term of 10 years and a fine of no more than RM50,000, while Section 26(1) provides for up to three months in prison, a fine not exceeding RM3,000, or both.

Anand pleaded not guilty to both charges after they were read before magistrate Siti Aishah Ahmad.

The prosecution was led by deputy public prosecutor Zamharir Zuhid, while Anand was unrepresented, according to Berita Harian.

Police previously confirmed that Anand did not have a driver’s licence, and had 27 traffic summonses for various offences.

The bus, which was carrying 18 Chinese nationals, the bus driver and two tour guides, was heading down from Genting Highlands last Saturday when it toppled over and hit the road divider at about 11am.

The two Chinese nationals who died had suffered head injuries, according to Pahang fire and rescue department director Wan Zaidi Wan Isa.