The agency said it would ensure that full attention, including emotional and psychosocial support would be given to the victims’ families and fellow students.
In a statement, Mara said the accident involved 15 students from Kolej Poly-Tech Mara (KPTM) Bangi and one student from the German-Malaysian Institute (GMI), and that Mara, through KPTM’s management, has disbursed a “compassionate contribution” amounting to RM1,500 to the next of kin of each deceased student.
“In addition, personal accident and death insurance claims of up to RM38,000 per student are currently being processed, subject to the terms and conditions set by the insurance provider,” the statement read.
According to Mara, post-mortems of the three KPTM students were completed at Rembau Hospital, Negeri Sembilan, and the remains of the three students, were returned to their home towns for burial rites.
“Haris Azib Sulaiman was brought to Masjid Bandar Baru Salak Tinggi, Sepang; Afkar Fitri Affendi was sent to Masjid Melaka Pindah, Alor Gajah; and Aliff Syahmi Abdul Hakim was taken to his family residence in Gombak, Selangor,” Mara said in a statement.
Meanwhile, three other students were unharmed, and the GMI student who sustained minor injuries is currently receiving treatment at Tuanku Ja’afar Hospital in Seremban.
Mara also clarified that it was not involved in organising any form of convoy activity involving the students and that the ride was informally arranged by the students themselves through discussions in a WhatsApp group.
It urged all parties to allow the authorities space to carry out a thorough and professional investigation.
“Mara will continue working closely with the educational institutions involved and the relevant agencies to ensure that all follow-up actions are taken responsibly, transparently and with compassion,” it added.
Earlier, Seremban police chief Hatta Che Din was quoted as saying that three motorcyclists were killed in an early morning crash, believed to have occurred during a convoy ride at Km262 of the northbound North-South Expressway.
“It is understood that at about 3am, all the students were travelling back from a nearby eatery. The case is still under investigation,” he said.