27/03/2025

THURSDAY | MAR 27, 2025

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Express bus drivers struggle with low pay, poor welfare

Sufficient supply of coconuts for Aidilfitri in Perlis

KANGAR: The Perlis Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry has issued an assurance that there will be a sufficient supply of coconuts in the state throughout the Aidilfitri festive season. Its director Rohaida Hassan said the issue of coconut supply in Perlis only arose during the first week of Ramadan but has since stabilised after wholesalers secured stock from Indonesia, as well as Sabah and Sarawak. “There will be enough coconuts for this Raya, ensuring a steady supply of santan (fresh coconut milk) at a price not exceeding RM20 per kg. “Currently, the price of santan is between RM17 and RM17.50 per kg in Perlis and we will monitor this to ensure it does not increase,” she said. She was speaking after a walkabout session held in conjunction with the launch of the state-level Festive Season Maximum Price Control Scheme for Hari Rayaat Pasar Besar Sena yesterday. She said santan is among the 26 items listed under the scheme, with the maximum retail price capped at RM17.50 per kg from March 24 to April 7. Rohaida added that 37 enforcement officers in Perlis would monitor prices throughout the festive season. Consumers are encouraged to lodge complaints with the ministry if traders fail to comply with the pricing scheme, so immediate action can be taken. On the walkabout, she said traders at Pasar Besar Sena were found to be in full compliance with the price controls and labelling requirements, with some even selling goods below the maximum price set. – Bernama RM1.5m allocated for entrepreneur grant initiative IPOH: The Perak government has allocated RM1.5 million this year under the Perak Sejahtera Entrepreneur Grant (GeRAK) initiative, benefiting about 750 recipients. State Women, Family, Social Welfare, Cooperatives and Entrepreneur Development Committee chairman Datuk Salbiah Mohamed said the RM2,000 grant per recipient would be provided in the form of equipment assistance for entrepreneurs in the manufacturing and service sectors. She added that online applications for the grant will open on April 7 and urged entrepreneurs to follow the Perak State Entrepreneur Secretariat (STeP) on social media for updates on initiatives, including the GeRAK grant. “Often, when state government grant applications open, some entrepreneurs miss out on the opportunity. “Stay connected with the relevant agencies. As entrepreneurs, it is crucial to engage with entrepreneurship-related agencies and under the state government, STeP is one of the key agencies managing such initiatives,” she said after launching GeRAK 2025 during a breaking of fast event on Tuesday. Salbiah said there are 150,000 entrepreneurs in Perak registered with the Companies Commission of Malaysia and those interested must complete the application form and meet the eligibility criteria to qualify for the grant. – Bernama

o Fatigue, long hours and lack of support push workers to brink amid staffing shortage

were Jelapang, Bukit Gantang, Yong Peng and Pagoh. Meanwhile, the main issue for drivers heading to the East Coast is the poor road condition. “Things will be tougher for those heading to the East Coast as the traffic jams are usually terrible. “With fatigue setting in due to crawling traffic, bad road conditions could prove costly,” said a driver who declined to be named. theSun had previously highlighted the issue of driver shortages in the country. Pan Malaysia Bus Operators Association president Datuk Mohamad Ashfar Ali warned that the situation threatens the viability and sustainability of the industry. Mohamad Ashfar said the affected sector – which includes cargo lorries, express buses and transport services for factory workers, students and tourists – is facing a shortage of about 5,000 drivers. This has made it difficult for operators to comply with the second-driver rule for long distance journeys.

and eating snacks while driving. “We have to pay these fines ourselves, but nobody cares about our welfare.” Another driver, who wanted to be known only as Zack, said only a handful of companies provide drivers with a basic salary. “If we had another source of income, of course we would switch professions. Most of us have to make ourselves available to drive almost daily. Some only get to rest when the vehicle is sent for repairs,” he said. Zack, who usually drives the Penang–Kuala Lumpur route, said there were times he would not see his family for almost a month. “Most of us take safety precautions to ensure we reach our destination safely. We get enough rest and sleep, especially when we know we don’t have a partner. “Most of the buses are equipped with speed limiters, which is good, but many stretches along the North–South Expressway still lack proper street lighting. That would help reduce incidents,” he said. Among the poorly lit stretches he highlighted

Ű BY IKHWAN ZULKAFLEE newsdesk@thesundaily.com

PETALING JAYA: Express bus drivers are frequently forced to take long-distance routes to make up for the low income they earn per trip. Based on feedback, some receive as little as RM45 for over 10 hours of driving. To make ends meet, many are left with no choice but to regularly work without a co-driver. This is despite the increased risk of fatigue, which could lead to road crashes, in addition to the heightened likelihood of receiving summonses from the Road Transport Department (RTD). Several express bus drivers revealed the situation when met by theSun at their rest area near Terminal Bersepadu Selatan (TBS). “I drive the Larkin (Johor Baru)–TBS route and we are only paid RM90 for the return trip. Normally, it takes five hours one way and we get three to four hours of rest before heading back to the original location. “As the rules state that a route of 300km and above requires two drivers, we have to split the payment between us,” said one driver on condition of anonymity. “Despite our low income, we remain the usual target for enforcement agencies. For this upcoming Hari Raya, my boss told me I need to drive alone from Larkin to TBS as there were no extra drivers available to partner with me. “All the seats are booked, so there’s nothing I can say to change the situation. I can only ask that the company bear the cost of any summonses I might receive,” he added. With years of experience behind the wheel, he said bus drivers were often fined for trivial matters, including wearing the wrong footwear

Some drivers said they are left with no choice but to work without a co-driver regularly despite the increased risk of fatigue, which could lead to road crashes and the heightened likelihood of receiving summonses. – ADIB RAWI YAHYA/THESUN

‘Lodge report if forced to drive long-distance alone’ PETALING JAYA: Express bus drivers who are forced to drive alone on long-distance routes have been urged to report their employers to the Road Transport Department (RTD). would take the risk of not providing enough drivers for a long trip,” he said when contacted by theSun . Mohamad Ashfar said the regulation is clearly spelled out and strictly followed by operators, particularly the 110 members under his association. “Don’t take unnecessary risks for your company. You are responsible not only for the lives of those on your bus, but also for other road users,” he said. Mohamad Ashfar also advised drivers to leave their job if their employers fail to attend to their welfare.

Pan Malaysia Bus Operators Association president Datuk Mohamad Ashfar Ali said the law clearly stipulates that two drivers must be present on board express buses travelling more than 300km or on journeys exceeding four hours. “RTD would not even allow an express bus to exit the terminal if only one driver is on board. So, I find the allegation that drivers are being forced to drive alone for long-distance routes to be baseless. “You see, we are not dealing with materials here. We carry more than 40 lives on board, so none of us

On March 14, the Land Public Transport Agency announced that 300 temporary change of licences would be issued to economy bus operators to help meet high demand during this year’s Hari Raya travel period. According to news reports, there were 4,261 active registered express buses and 5,092 tour buses as of December last year. – by Ihkwan Zulkaflee

“I can’t speak for the companies that have been granted temporary licences to operate during Hari Raya, but express bus operators would not go against the law requiring two drivers for long journeys as the consequences would be severe for their operations. “My advice to any driver claiming they are being forced to drive alone for long-distance trips is this: report your company to RTD.

Move to address obesity issue among city council staff KUANTAN: The Kuantan City Council will take immediate steps to address the issue of overweight staff and obesity involving 30% of its employees. Kuantan Mayor Datuk Razihan “It is indeed serious and shocking. We recently appointed a clinic and through it, we were able to profile the health status of our employees.

Razihan added that one of the short-term measures being considered is to halt the use of elevators for a day to encourage staff to use the stairs. During the event, five out of 21 organisers were recognised as “Best Organiser”, while 25 traders received the “Best Trader Award”, selected from among 1,159 traders operating at 31 venues across the district. – Bernama

“It was found that 30% of council staff fall under the overweight category, with excessive body mass index readings,” he said after officiating at the Kuantan Ramadan Bazaar Best Organiser and Trader Awards event on Tuesday.

Adzharuddin said the council has more than 1,300 staff and with 30% categorised as overweight or obese, it reflects an increasingly alarming lifestyle trend.