GEORGE TOWN: Every school day, a group of dedicated parents rise early to take on a vital role: as traffic marshals.
They volunteer their time during peak school drop-off and pick-up hours, ensuring students alight safely and cross roads without incident.
There is no parking, no waiting around, just a seamless “pause, drop and go” system that keeps traffic moving like a well-oiled machine outside the school gates.
Mechanical engineer Lim Soo Siew, 46, is one such parent. Every morning, she directs traffic at her daughter’s school, SJK(C) Chung Shan, before heading to work.
“Traffic is heavy in the mornings because the school is near the Free Industrial Zone,” she explained.
“Parents can drive into the compound to drop their children, but it still backs up traffic on the main road. My job is to get the children out of the cars swiftly and safely, then direct the cars out.”
The biggest challenge? Students who forget their belongings and dart back to the car.
“It can be dangerous, so I have to make sure they are safe. I’m the only parent in charge of this, but there is support from the school.”
Lim spends about 40 minutes each morning on the task, while afternoons are far calmer and do not require a marshal.
At SK Convent Green Lane, businessman Sapwi Abu Hassan Basri, 52, handles both afternoon and evening sessions, as his two daughters attend both.
Having volunteered unofficially for some time, he even went to the George Town police district headquarters to learn traffic management.
“The tricky part is keeping cars moving and letting others through, especially on Jalan Masjid Negeri, which is always busy,” he said during a police briefing for school traffic marshals at Komtar recently.
“Parents need patience and flexibility. I arrive half an hour early, and both sessions usually take about 45 minutes. Being self-employed, I can make the time, and I see it as something I must do as a parent.”
The Penang Island City Council (MBPP) recently registered 65 new school traffic marshals, providing them with a monthly allowance of RM200 for one session or RM400 for two.
Prior to this, there were already 42 certified marshals.
Each marshal receives a pair of bright white gloves, a fluorescent vest, a red “Berhenti” (stop) sign, and a whistle.
George Town district police headquarters traffic control officers Insp Haris Safuan Mohamad and Kpl Muhammad Fazieree Nasri trained the parents on dos and don’ts, hand signals, and safety protocols before issuing certificates and gear to begin their duties.
MBPP councillor Koay Gaik Kee, chairman of the council’s traffic sub-committee on school congestion, praised the parents’ initiative.
“It’s commendable that parents have stepped forward to manage traffic and keep children safe,” she said. “We hope they will follow the instructions from this briefing, assist pupils when crossing the road, and help ensure smooth traffic flow.”
