6 days ago
- Business
- Free Malaysia Today
Acute shortage driving bus operators to hire without vetting, says group
It was reported last week that the bus driver involved in the crash that killed 15 students from Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris had a record of 18 traffic summonses. (Bernama pic)
PETALING JAYA : An acute shortage of qualified bus and lorry drivers in Malaysia has led to some companies ignoring records when hiring new employees, an association says.
Tour Bus Operators Association of Peninsular Malaysia president Steven Chong said the shortage worsened after the Covid-19 pandemic, when many drivers decided to quit the industry for good.
He added that the industry, which he said had raised the shortage a number of times, continued to struggle with recruiting experienced drivers.
Chong also said that the majority of the workforce comprised ageing drivers as efforts to attract fresh talent had failed.
'After the MCO, many of our drivers found other jobs,' he told FMT, referring to the restrictions on movements put in place to curb the spread of Covid-19.
'Once they are settled, it's very difficult to get them to come back.
'And in times of desperation, companies may skip the vetting process, such as checking for summonses,' he said, adding that a majority of bus companies would ensure that their drivers undergo a urine test the day before a trip.
It was reported last week that the bus driver involved in the crash that killed 15 students from Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris had a record of 18 traffic summonses.
To overcome the shortage of drivers, Chong suggested that the government provide more training and incentives to encourage especially the younger generation to join the industry.
He added that allowing the employment of foreign drivers would help.
Pan Malaysia Bus Operators Association president Ashfar Ali said although the transport ministry provides 1,000 training slots for those in the lower-income group to obtain Class E and public service vehicle licences, this was not enough to meet the current demand.
Voicing gratitude for the existing allocation, he said the industry nevertheless needed more support.
'It's costly to obtain these licences, and while the free training initiative helps, the numbers need to be increased if we're serious about resolving this shortage,' he said.
He also dismissed the notion that the shortage of drivers was due to unattractive salaries or unfavourable conditions, attributing it instead to issues with training and employee retention.
Ashfar said operators often needed to provide an advance to sponsor aspiring drivers through licensing. However, he said many disappeared once they were certified, opting not to work for the companies that had funded them.
'We've seen cases where drivers get their licence and just vanish. Few operators are willing to take the risk,' he said.
