WHAT caught my attention recently and saddened me was a letter published in a national English daily. It was written by a man whose family had travelled by express bus. I’m sure some of you would have read it in the NST and asked yourself: “Is this the Malaysian attitude, generally?”

For the benefit of those who have not, allow me to quote the contents of the letter:

“On Sunday, about noon, my wife and three young children boarded an express bus for Johor Baru. After Nilai, the bus started to encounter problems but continued until Ayer Keroh where it broke down on the side of the North-South Expressway at 2pm.

When the bus broke down, the driver’s only concern was the consignment of crabs he was carrying. He flagged down a passing bus and transferred his consignment of crabs to it and the crabs were quickly on their way. The human beings, who were his fare-paying passengers, were left stranded.

A bus going to Johor Baru stopped shortly afterwards and two passengers boarded it. A couple more buses stopped and another one or two got on — mostly the young and able-bodied.

Those travelling as a family in groups could not get aboard as there were only places for one or two in each of the buses. The women and children who were not able to push and shove, and those carrying heavy baggage were left behind.

Hour after hour passed with no word from the driver as to what to expect and absolutely no help from the transport company.

At 6pm, there were still 10 passengers waiting for help. My wife called a friend in Seremban, who drove to Ayer Keroh and fetched her and my children. Those who could not find a way out were left behind.

Buses do break down due to a host of reasons and it was unfortunate that this occurred. But the irresponsible and inhumane manner in which the passengers were treated is unforgivable.

The Transport Ministry should compel express bus companies to make alternative arrangements to get the fare-paying passengers to their destination whenever a bus breaks down. Isn’t there a regulation on this? If there isn’t, it’s time a regulation was introduced.

It is a frequent occurrence to see stranded express buses on the North-South Expressway. I had no idea that fare-paying passengers were treated so shabbily until my wife and children experienced it.

I propose that the licences of irresponsible express companies, such as this one, be withdrawn and drastic action taken against them.”

Now, what do you think? Is this what a Malaysian driver would instinctively or typically do under the same circumstances? He might be a courier for some urgent cargo like mail or newspapers or important documents which must move on, while the passengers wait for the replacement bus.

I have travelled by express buses from the North to the South umpteenth times in the many years I have visited Peninsular Malaysia either on business, pleasure or both. I must admit I have been lucky though that so far I have never encountered such an experience — that is the coach breaking down along the way or even a burst tyre or even a failed air-conditioning system. In fact, in recent years I have noticed many of the highway express buses plying the north to south, east to west routes in the peninsula getting better — more comfortable seats, air-conditioning system working well, piped music (except sometimes a little too loud). Otherwise, I have no complaint.

I have observed too that the bus driver is always accompanied by a co-driver, especially on night routes as it can get very dark in most parts of the way, and therefore could be a strain on the eyes.

I do not know how much the driver is usually paid but highway bus drivers, to me, are doing a thankless job and like everyone else may work under stress or constraint, unknown to the passengers. Stress and strain could lead to loss of concentration. When an accident occurs, if the running machine is not the cause then it would be due to human error, for want of a better word. Some say it’s fate but then, as many would also say, never tempt fate. So be sober and alert at all times. If you are under stress and strain, then for the sake of everyone’s safety on the road, don’t drive. Get the co-driver to take over or even make more brief stops along the way rather than try to break the time record.

Once when I travelled by Mercedes Benz coach on Germany’s autobahn (it was running at great speed, faster than I was accustomed to in Malaysia where speed limit on the express highway is set at 110 kmph) I observed the drivers alternated over the long distance not once but a couple of times, and when I asked, someone said it was for everyone’s safety.

That itself is great consideration for human safety, but I am not always sure whether that is the uppermost consideration of local transport operators and their drivers.

Thankfully, there is a speed limit set for Peninsular Malaysia’s highways, such as the North-South Highway. And there are many cameras along the way, so speeding tickets can be issued without motorists realising it until it came in the post.

Now back to the main point.

Have I encountered a similar experience on any of the buses plying the so-called Sarawak Highway?

No. In fact I have been quite impressed with the organisation of the public highway transportation in Sarawak, at the operating companies that have invested huge sums of money to acquire the buses, employing so many drivers, maintaining sales offices, workshops in the main towns, and running regular departure schedules on a daily basis to many parts of Sarawak, in addition across the border to Pontianak.

As expected, the drivers don’t talk when they are working, which is only right since it could be distracting. I usually travel at night between Kuching and Sarikei and thence to Sibu and Bintulu before reaching Miri. That’s when I need a change from flying.

But business, I gather, has been somewhat affected after MAS and AirAsia went on an airfare war. Good for travellers but no good for land transport operators.

Maybe now because of rising fuel costs, the two airlines will be forced to sit down and cooperate.

If you pay MAS only RM80 for a one-way from Kuching to Miri or vice-versa why pay the same by bus which takes more than 10 hours? Indeed, why travel by land when the airlines offer such cheap fares. One wonders how long they are going to keep up with it? Maybe not for long now. Buses breaking down on the road can only mean that maintenance is poor or lacking.

It’s not true that old buses should all be condemned. I know in the United States and parts of Europe, old buses are refurbished for use by schoolchildren and the conveyance of elderly people living in homes in the countryside. They meet with the standards required for safety since they undergo regular stringent tests.

One wonders how stringent are the tests carried out by Puspakom on passenger buses, or if proper and regular checks are carried out. You can compromise on a lot of things but never on passenger safety, and this means the operator and driver must share the responsibility of checking that their vehicles are always in good running order.

Otherwise you’ll end up like the man’s family that after getting out of a bus that has broken down on the road, stood on the roadside, waiting for another bus or transport to continue the journey. It could be one long wait before the next bus comes along.

I am told that the operators of Sarawak’s highway transport operators are quite quick to reach the scene to send a replacement vehicle once news is received of stranded passengers at any time of the day or night.

Thankfully, too, one doesn’t get to see fowls and animals (as in the old days) being taken on board by passengers on express buses. Would they still do that in some parts of Sarawak, I wonder?