Call to improve safety standards
New Straits Times Online, 24 April 2014
IT is high time bus operators pull up their socks and cooperate with the government in reducing accidents involving public transport, said Pan Malaysian Bus Operators Association president Datuk Mohd Ashfar Ali.
He said operators should buck up and improve their safety standards and be more vigilant in ensuring they employ good drivers with good work ethics.
"Enough is enough. The number of bus accidents in the country is totally unacceptable. It is time operators, drivers, agencies and consumers get their act together and work to improve the standard of bus operations in the country."
On drivers' salary not meeting the minimum wage policy, Ashfar urged drivers to complain to the Human Resources Ministry.
"If drivers are not satisfied with the terms, they should lodge a complaint. I am sure the ministry would take the necessary action."
He says, consumers, too, should also be more realistic and accept the hike in bus fares, if any, as the cost of maintaining the buses and paying the drivers was high.
The government, he said, should ensure that the bus operators comply with the rules and regulations stipulated.
"Self-regulation does not work. The government has to motivate the operators to follow the rules, implement the regulations and do proper enforcement."
Ashfar urged the government to increase the number of bus drivers in the country, as the cost involved in training them was too high for operators or individuals to bear.
"The cost of training a driver could come up to RM6,000. The operators used to absorb this cost, but stopped because the turnover rate was high and the money spent was wasted once the drivers leave the company."
He urged the government to introduce skill training programmes to produce quality drivers.
"The government is providing skills training for mechanics, technicians and such. Why not train commercial vehicle drivers?
"They could be used not only to drive buses but other commercial vehicles."
In an immediate response, National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye said it was the responsibility of the companies to train their drivers.
He said if the operators had any issues, they should discuss it with the government and come up with a solution that would benefit all parties.
