Drivers going across Causeway

Many leaving the country for Singapore for better pay, says group

PETALING JAYA: The lure of the strong Singapore dollar is hitting the transportation industry hard with bus owners saying that Malaysia has lost the cream of the crop to the island state.

Pan Malaysia Bus Operators Association treasurer J. Suchdav said drivers could make between RM2,000 and RM4,000 depending on the type of buses.

“Now, it is hard for us to look for good drivers.

“Many have left the country to work in Singapore because they are paid about S$1,800 (RM5,000),” he said in an interview.

Suchdav said the trend began two years ago and the impact was greater now since the opening of a new bus company from Britain four months ago.

He said bus operators there used to hire drivers from China but recently they took in more Malaysians.

Suchdav, who is also Johor Bus Operators Association president, said most of the drivers who left the country for better pay were between 28 and 40, including female drivers.

He said money was the only factor that attracted them to work in Singapore.

“Like us, they also provide training but the regulation is actually much stricter in Singapore due to stringent enforcement.

“Here, bus operators are forced to hire repeat offenders due to the lack of good drivers,” Suchdav said.

He said that there were drivers who had accumulated more than seven summonses but still got the job because of low supply.

Suchdav also alleged some drivers even expect their employers to pay for their old summonses and that many had various attitude problems.

“In fact, not many would think of operating a bus company as it is fast becoming a sunset industry,” he said.

Suchdav said only a pay increase would bring back the drivers but it was not possible as they could not simply raise ticket prices.

On Thursday, The Star highlighted that Singapore’s decision to increase wages for professionals by at least RM900 from next year could lure more Malaysians to seek work there.

Here, bus operators are forced to hire repeat o enders due to the lack of good drivers. J. Suchdav