THE government is expected to announce financial assistance for school bus drivers, many of whom lost their source of income during the movement-control order (MCO), Transport Ministry sources said.

This comes as school bus drivers said they are waiting for the ministry to deliver on a promise to provide them assistance for vehicle maintenance after three to four months without work.

Persatuan Bas Sekolah Malaysia (PBSM) director Ahmad Fauzi Murad said the association held a meeting early last month with minister Wee Ka Siong, who promised some funds.

“We met with Wee and told him what bus drivers are facing.

“We told Wee drivers will need RM5,000 to RM6,000 to start operating again.”

The minister did not promise an amount, said Fauzi but promised a small amount of compensation or assistance by the end of May.

“Now we’re going into July and we have heard nothing.”

The Malaysian Insight learnt that assistance for bus drivers is to be resolved soon as it had been discussed since the early days of the MCO when the Land Public Transport Agency (Apad) raised the needs of bus drivers in various sectors, including school buses, with the Finance Ministry.

The aid, however, is likely to be given only to school bus drivers registered with Apad.

When contacted, Wee said the matter was again discussed at a meeting last week where Finance Minister Tengku Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz was present.

The meeting also noted that there are 15,000 legal or registered school bus operators, while the figure could be double or triple for non-registered drivers.

“We are still waiting for the Finance Ministry to finalise things,” Wee told The Malaysian Insight.

PBSM represents more than 400 drivers from Kedah, Penang, Terengganu, Perak, Pahang, Tawau and Selangor. 

Fauzi said many school bus drivers have been left hanging by a thread as their operations were disrupted by the MCO, which began on March 18 and closed all schools. Only form five and six pupils resumed classes on June 24.

“While some managed to come up with a side business, like selling raw food or kuih, and take up jobs with delivery companies, the majority of them remained jobless throughout the MCO period and until even now,” he said. 

Fauzi said drivers need funds to maintain and repair their vehicles to prepare to be in service when schools reopen.

“We will need to change tyres, oil and take buses to Puspakom for inspections.”

Some parents were kind enough to pay their bus drivers a portion of fees during MCO, he said.

“There were some parents that paid but they could not pay the full amount either because they were struggling as well.”

Some drivers received the Prihatin cash aid, while some did not, he added.

Making ends meet

Fauzi, who lives in Ampang and owns three buses, relied on his children, who took up jobs as GrabFood riders, during the MCO.

Two of the three buses are driven by his children but without work, they opted to be delivery riders to feed the family, the 52-year-old said.

Another driver Banun Yusoff, based in Cheras, sold spicy fried anchovies at RM5 per bottle when the MCO began.

“Parents could not pay me bus fares even though I asked them for some help,” she said.

Johor-based driver Asri Ma’mor said some drivers are now in debt with their insurance company.

“Some even had to resort to selling off their vehicles. Some purchased their bus on a loan and still have to pay monthly instalments.”

Asri said many drivers are older persons, usually 50 to 60, who can’t shift to a new job easily. 

“My school bus business which I run with my wife has not generated any income for four months. For now, I work as a temporary bus driver for factory workers. 

“Before the MCO I was earning around RM7,000 a month. Now I can only manage to earn a bit over RM1,000.” 

Movement restrictions were lifted for schools on June 24 with classes resuming under strict health standard operating procedures. 

 There are no announcements yet on when other levels can resume classes, although preschools and kindergartens are allowed to reopen from July 1.

However, Fauzi said not many drivers are keen to resume services just yet as it’s not cost-efficient.

“We’re probably going to pick up only two to three pupils a day. Operating now would only result in more losses, like petrol.” – June 29, 2020.