Never too old to drive a bus if you’re healthy


Festive cheer: Hameed Mytheen (in baju Melayu) handing over a goody bag to Abu at the Melaka Sentral bus terminal while Muhammad Firdaus (second from left) looks on.

MELAKA: A 70-year-old was among the oldest express bus drivers that Melaka Road Transport Department (JPJ) director Muhammad Firdaus Shariff has ever come across in his line of duty.

“This is the first time I am hearing of an elderly man ferrying passengers on the long haul from Johor to Thailand,” he said during a road safety campaign in conjunction with Hari Raya at the Melaka Sentral bus terminal here on Wednesday night.

He was accompanying Melaka’s road works, infrastructure, public amenity and transportation committee chairman Datuk Hameed Mytheen Kunju Basheer at the event.

Muhammad Firdaus said he had never come across such an elderly driver going on a long-distance trip during his previous enforcement checks at the bus terminal.

The man, he said, was the main driver and was accompanied by a co-driver when screening was done during the campaign.

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

“Hence, there was no issue for the veteran bus driver to go on the long haul,” he said.

The driver, who was also at the event and wanted to be known as Abu, said he has no plans to retire just yet.

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

He said the trip to Haadyai in Thailand takes hours, but he is used to driving long distances and would let his co-driver take over the wheel when he is tired.

“The safety of my passengers and other road users is my priority and I avoid speeding along the expressway,” he added.

Meanwhile, Hameed Mytheen said over 100 express bus drivers tested negative for drug use during the screening conducted in conjunction with the festive season.

He said JPJ has also concluded its inspections on express buses in preparation for the Hari Raya season.

“Checks will continue to be carried out throughout the festive season so that passengers heading home for the festive season will arrive at their destination safely,” he added.

Hameed Mytheen said heavy and cargo vehicles will be prohibited on Melaka roads today, as well as on April 24 and 25.

He added that three hotspots in the state, namely the Alor Gajah-Melaka Tengah-Jasin and Sungai Udang-Paya Rumput-Ayer Keroh highways will be closely monitored during this festive period.

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