How Did a Police Constable and a Motorcyclist Die in Two Sabah Road Crashes? — 2 Killed

Quick answer: Two people died in separate road crashes in Sabah, Malaysia, on 12 October 2026. Constable Mathew Zulian ak Backly, 29, was killed after the police vehicle he was travelling in crashed at Kampung Lot M in Kinabatangan, while 41-year-old motorcyclist Muslin Naslin died at the scene of a collision with a car on Jalan Suasa in Beaufort.

Key facts

• What: Two separate fatal road crashes
• Where: Kampung Lot M, Kinabatangan, Sabah; and Jalan Suasa, Beaufort, Sabah, Malaysia
• When: 12 October 2026
• Toll: 2 dead — Constable Mathew Zulian ak Backly, 29; Muslin Naslin, 41
• Status: Developing — both crashes under investigation

What happened in Kinabatangan

Constable Mathew Zulian ak Backly, 29, a member of the Kinabatangan district police, was travelling in a police vehicle on its way back to the Kinabatangan district police headquarters when the vehicle crashed at Kampung Lot M in Kinabatangan. Mathew and two other personnel were taken by ambulance to Kinabatangan Hospital, where a medical officer confirmed that Mathew had died at 4.53pm. His remains were to be taken back to Kuching, Sarawak, for funeral arrangements.

What happened in Beaufort

In a separate crash, 41-year-old motorcyclist Muslin Naslin was killed in a collision with a car on Jalan Suasa in Beaufort at around 12.50pm. Naslin, who was riding a Honda motorcycle, was pronounced dead at the scene.

What happens next

Both crashes are under police investigation. Investigators will examine the circumstances of the police vehicle crash in Kinabatangan and the motorcycle–car collision in Beaufort to determine what caused each one.

If you drive on routes like this

• Slow down on unfamiliar roads: every 1% of extra speed raises fatal-crash risk about 4%
• Never assume the other vehicle sees you — drive as if it doesn't
• On two-lane roads, treat every overtake as the highest-risk moment of the trip
• Wear a helmet on every motorcycle ride; helmets sharply cut the risk of fatal head injury
• Know the local emergency number before you travel — our emergency numbers directory covers every country

Frequently asked questions

Who died in the Kinabatangan crash?

Constable Mathew Zulian ak Backly, a 29-year-old member of the Kinabatangan district police, died after the police vehicle he was travelling in crashed at Kampung Lot M in Kinabatangan on 12 October 2026. He was confirmed dead at Kinabatangan Hospital at 4.53pm.

Who died in the Beaufort crash?

Muslin Naslin, a 41-year-old motorcyclist, was killed in a collision with a car on Jalan Suasa in Beaufort at around 12.50pm on 12 October 2026. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Were the two crashes connected?

No. They were separate incidents in different parts of Sabah — one in Kinabatangan involving a police vehicle, and one in Beaufort involving a motorcycle and a car.