Express bus driver still making long-haul trips at 70 wows Melaka JPJ chief

VETERAN...Hameed (in Baju Melayu) handing over a goody bag to the elderly bus driver at Melaka Sentral Bus Terminal while Muhammad Firdaus (second from left) looks on.

MELAKA: A 70-year-old is undoubtedly among the oldest long-haul drivers that Melaka Road Transport Department (JPJ) director Muhammad Firdaus Shariff has come across in his work.

"This is first time I've heard of an elderly man ferrying passengers by express bus from Johor to Thailand," he said after accompanying state roadworks, infrastructure, public amenity and transportation committee chairman Datuk Hameed Mytheen Kunju Basheer on a Hari Raya road safety campaign at Melaka Sentral bus terminal here on Wednesday (April 19) night.

He said the man was the main driver and accompanied by a co-driver on the route.

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Muhammad Firdaus said the driver had all the relevant documents to drive the express bus, adding that public service vehicle licences are issued only after a mandatory medical examination during the application and renewal process.

“Hence, there is no issue for the veteran being a long-haul driver,” he said.

Approached by the media, the driver declined to be identified but said he had no plans to put the brakes on his career just yet.

“Age is just a figure and I wish to be financially independent as long as my health permits,” said the senior citizen, who hails from Kelantan.

He said he was used to driving long distances but would let his co-driver take the wheel once he gets tired.

“The safety of my passengers and other road users is my priority and I avoid speeding,” he said.

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Meanwhile, Hameed Mytheen said over 100 express bus drivers were screened for drugs ahead of their festive-season trips and all tested negative.

He said JPJ had also concluded its inspection of express buses in preparation for the Hari Raya season.

“Checks will continue throughout the festive season so that passengers heading home will arrive at their destinations safely,” he said.

Hameed Mytheen also said heavy vehicles and cargo haulers will be prohibited on Melaka roads on Thursday and Friday (April 20 and 21) as well as Monday and Tuesday (April 24 and 25).

He added that hotspot stretches in the state – the Alor Gajah-Melaka Tengah-Jasin Highway and Sungai Udang-Paya Rumput-Ayer Keroh highway – will be watched closely during the festive period.