School bus coalition urges mandatory association membership for license approval amid safety concerns after recent student van crash.
Only 60 Per Cent of School Bus Operators Are Registered to Associations
The Malaysian School Bus Operators and Drivers Coalition has urged the government to make association membership mandatory for school bus operator license applications.
Over 7,000 school bus operators currently operate without being registered with any association since those who want to operate a school bus only need to register with the Land Public Transport Agency (APAD) via the Commercial Vehicle Licensing System (iSPKP).
Dr M Muruga, the president of the Malaysian School Bus Operators and Drivers Coalition, believes that the current system needs to be reviewed, especially after a crash involving a school van carrying 22 students on the North-South Expressway near the Bandar Dato Onn northbound exit.
“The permitted capacity was exceeded. That’s a serious offence. Fortunately, no fatal accident occurred, but if something had, who would be held responsible?” he said, as quoted by the Bernama news agency.
“The situation is like a ticking time bomb in terms of road safety, especially for students… as associations are crucial in enhancing operators’ awareness of safety issues,” he added.
According to Muruga, approval by APAD does not take into account the applicant’s experience or record and, therefore, could be detrimental to the children’s safety. Muruga also said that, even though joining his association only cost RM40 annually, many operators were hesitant.
“We’re not just a registered association. We offer free safety briefings, maintenance workshops, and work with JPJ and Puspakom. But when we call for a meeting, only 40 people show up, even though we invite hundreds,” said Muruga.
Before the COVID-19 pandemic, there were nearly 18,000 school bus operators across Malaysia. However, following the enforcement of the ban on buses older than 30 years, the number dropped to around 12,000. Out of those, only 60 per cent are registered to their respective associations.
Around 85 per cent of current school bus operators currently comprise senior citizens and single mothers, especially in states like Sabah and Sarawak, including Muruga (70), who has been a driver for over 30 years.
