Struggling school bus operators looking for a lifeline

PETALING JAYA: Being unable to collect fees during the movement control order (MCO), school bus operators are struggling to stay afloat and are looking for a lifeline.

Transport company director Kamal Yahya, whose firm is in Cheras, Kuala Lumpur, noted that with no income, operators were not able to maintain their overheads.

“The calls for school bus operators to stop collecting fees from parents is akin to putting a nail in the school bus industry’s coffin,” he said in a statement.

Unlike e-hailing cars, taxis or commuter buses, Kamal said the service provided by school buses was based on long-term commitment, with parents being assured their children arrive at schools.

He said parents should realise that upon engaging a school bus operator, they are entering a contract for services, normally for a year.

Kamal called on the Transport Ministry to allow the flexibility for school bus operators to continue collecting payment from parents.

To ease the parents’ burden, Kamal said operators could offer discounts of up to 50%, defer the monthly payments and give temporary fee waiver to parents who had lost their jobs.

“These options are available for discussion between parents and school bus operators to strike a winwin solution,” he added.

School bus operators depend solely on the fees collected from parents to pay for fixed operating cost, Kamal said. These expenses occur monthly even when schools are closed.

“Government support in the form of one-off cash disbursement, wage subsidies, loan moratoriums or grants are most welcomed, although it must be reminded that such wage subsidies should at least be extended to six months to ensure continuity of the business and employment of drivers till next year.

“As for a moratorium, it would be of immense help if this could be extended to include credit leasing companies, since many vehicles used by school bus operators are purchased via credit companies,” he said.