Zamry Pon, 50, who appeared at the Rompin magistrates’ court with a walking stick and a face mask, made the plea before magistrate Melody Woon.

According to Bernama, he was charged with driving recklessly at KM126 of Jalan Kuantan-Segamat in Rompin at about 12.30am on June 9.

The charge, framed under Section 41(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987, provides for up to 10 years in prison and a maximum fine of RM50,000, upon conviction.

Deputy public prosecutor Noor Asyikin Hashim asked the court to set bail at RM10,000 but lawyer Denial Khairul Hizam requested a lower amount, saying his client could not work due to injuries sustained in the crash.

Denial also said Zamry needed to support his wife and four children, including one who is disabled.

Woon allowed Zamry to post bail at RM5,000 with one surety and set Aug 16 for the submission of documents.

The tour bus was carrying 39 passengers, including two drivers, from Melaka to Terengganu when it overturned on a roadside slope after losing control and colliding with a trailer transporting steel coils.

Thirty-five passengers, mostly teachers from SK Jeram and their children, sustained injuries while four people were killed, including the second driver of the bus, Hadi Asyraf Mad Idris, 29.

The three others who lost their lives were 48-year-old Hasnatul Adilah Hassan, SK Jeram’s deputy principal; school operation assistant Hamzah Ahmad, 60; and teacher Dahlia Ahmad, 52.