About 30 people send off BMW driver, 22, who died racing younger brother in crash that killed 4 others

The 22-year-old man, who died while allegedly racing his younger 19-year-old sibling in Johor, Malaysia, was given a final send-off on Jun. 5.

The funeral cortege was made up of about 30 friends and family, Guang Ming Daily reported.

Angry reactions

Photos and videos of the send-off were met with backlash online.

Some commenters said they would be absent from the funeral if the deceased was someone related to them.

About the incident

The younger sibling, who survived the multi-vehicle collision that killed five people in total, has been remanded for a further four days to facilitate a murder investigation.

The fatal crash involving two luxury cars has sparked fresh outrage in Malaysia.

The 19-year-old driver was in a Mercedes-Benz A250 at the time of the crash on the Kluang – Simpang Renggam highway in Johor.

He has been identified as a university student in Singapore.

He tested negative for drugs.

The deceased 22-year-old was driving a BMW 530e.

Four others who died from one family

Among those who died were four members of the same family in one other vehicle.

Several others were injured, including two children.

A few other vehicles appeared badly damaged post-accident.

The Malaysian government has called such accidents a “serious public health challenge” on the country’s roads.

BMW and Mercedes speeding

Kluang police said the BMW was spotted travelling “fast and recklessly” alongside the Mercedes before it lost control.

The BMW crossed into the opposite lane, struck four cars and plunged into a ravine.

The case was being investigated under sections of the Road Transport Act covering reckless or dangerous driving and causing death by reckless or dangerous driving.

A first-time offender faces five to 10 years in jail, a fine of RM20,000 (S$6,402) to RM50,000 (S$16,006) and at least five years’ disqualification from driving.

Backlash to such incidents

Malaysia's transport minister, Anthony Loke, urged police to speed up the investigation for referral to the Attorney General’s Chambers.

“This kind of driving is very irresponsible and completely unacceptable,” Loke said in a statement on Jun. 2.

“A driving licence is not permission to drive as you please to the point of causing disaster to innocent people,” he added.

The crash set off a firestorm in Malaysia, which has lasted for days.

Fatal road accidents and incidents of reckless driving have been condemned, but negative reactions have been exacerbated by the public perception of lax enforcement in Malaysia.

The Malaysian transport ministry previously said road crashes kill an average of 18 people a day.