IPOH: A sombre atmosphere filled the air at the Banquet Hall of the Perak Darul Ridzuan Building as attendees were moved to tears by a pantomime performance paying tribute to victims of the tragic Federal Reserve Unit (FRU) accident in Teluk Intan.
The 15-minute performance, titled ‘Sang Beret Merah’ (The Red Beret), depicted the final journey of the FRU officers who had been assigned on duty during the Chitra Pournami festival in Teluk Intan on May 13, which later resulted in a tragic crash.
Sultan of Perak, Sultan Nazrin Shah, also witnessed the performance after gracing the Perak state-level Warriors’ Day 2025 celebration earlier.
Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad was moved to tears.
The performance featured 20 police officers alongside 30 members of the Persatuan Deklamasi Lakon Perak.
Accompanying the act was a poem recital by the state Cultural Council Deputy President Azmi Ismail, ASP Samsudin Hussin from the Perak Contingent Police Headquarters and Detective Sergeant Major Bashira Sharif from the Criminal Investigation Department.
The performance grew even more emotional when original footage of the FRU members involved in the accident was shown.
The tragic incident that shook the nation occurred about 8.50am, involving a truck carrying 15 FRU personnel from Unit 5 Ipoh.
The group was returning to Ipoh after completing their assignment in Teluk Intan when their vehicle collided with a lorry transporting stones along Jalan Chikus–Sungai Lampam.
Nine FRU personnel were killed in the crash, two were seriously injured, and seven others sustained minor injuries.
Those killed were Sergeant S. Perumal, 44, from Lahat, Ipoh; Sergeant Mohd Roslan Abd Rahim, 46, from Tanjung Rambutan, Ipoh; Corporal Mohd Pozli Jaudin, 41, from Gunung Rapat, Ipoh; Corporal Nurit Pandak, 34, (Kampar) and Corporal Amiruddin Zabri, 38, (Gopeng).
Also killed were Corporal Mohamad Hilmi Mohd Azlan, 38, from Taiping; Corporal Muhamad Akmal Muhamad, 35, from Kuala Kurau; Lance Corporal Damarrulan Abdul Latif, 33, from Ipoh; and Constable Akmal Wafi Annuar, 28, from Lunas, Kedah.