National Service Bus Bungle - School Bus Associations Blame Agents

The Federation of Malaysian Schoolbus Operator Associations says the transportation problem affecting thousands of National Service (NS) trainees, Monday can be avoided if the NS Training Department deals with bus operators directly instead of contracting agents.

Its chairman, Chee Ah Tey, said the agents had failed to give the list of names of the trainees to the bus operators earlier, making it difficult for them to obtain permits from the Road Transport Department (JPJ). "The list of names is one of the criteria for us to apply for the permit from the JPJ," he told reporters, here Tuesday.

Monday, 34,313 trainees were scheduled to be taken to NS camps nationwide. However, 2,820 trainees were stranded for hours at a number of pick-up points in several states and many returned home after the buses did not turn up.

Chee said it was impossible for bus operators to obtain JPJ permits in time if they received the list of names at the last minute. They needed at least a week to submit the application, he said.

"I have two school buses taking NS trainees from Muar to the camp in Masjid Tanah on Jan 1 but only received the list of names from the agent on Dec 30," he said.

He said the JPJ had reminded school bus operators to get the permit first to avoid action being taken on them.

As JPJ officers conducted inspections at pick-up points, surely buses without permits would not come, he said. (Bernama)

***** I think there is more to this blunder than meets the eye. Firstly why appoint agents? Another example of the notorious rent and crony system that is screwing up this country? How much are these 'agents' being paid and who are they and who selects them? Are these infernal middlemen that badly needed? In Malaysia anything with a big budget is a great opportunity for the leeches to come out waiting for bountiful handouts. The irony is that after obtaining the contracts, the shameless rent seekers can't even get a simple name list out to the bus operators in time!

Secondly why are the otherwise lazy and thoroughly corrupted JPJ officers doing overtime on a public holiday looking for buses to book? Perhaps they have been instigated to crack down on the buses and make a mess of the departure schedule as some powerful person is unhappy with the present beneficiaries of the transport contract? I wouldn't rule anything out where big money is involved, especially when you don't have to lift a finger to earn it. Malaysia, my friends is still a place where everything still Boleh!
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