Bus drivers not keen on daily urine tests

KUALA LUMPUR: The bus drivers association had agreed to extend their full support to the government for daily urine tests to be done on drivers although they do not agree with the decision.

Peninsular Malaysia Bus Driver Association president Saa'dan Man said this is because the daily tests would interfere with bus trips and scheduling as the tests are time consuming.

He added the move will also tarnish the image of bus drivers and the country as the tests would be carried out in bus terminals where there are tourists from all over the world.

He said it would be more appropriate to carry out the tests in the bus operators offices rather than having them at bus terminals or on the road.

Saa’dan was commenting on a statement by deputy Transport Minister Datuk Abdul Aziz Kaprawi on Tuesday, that in light of the recent bus accidents in the country, all bus drivers will have to undergo urine tests at all bus terminals every day.

“Based on my experience, bus accidents occur not only because of drugs or the driver’s negligence as other factors like bus maintenance and unconducive road conditions which are not suitable for heavy load transportation like double-decker buses,” Saa’dan told Astro AWANI.

He said the right approach to stop bus accidents would be to look into the welfare of the bus drivers, physical conditions and maintenance of roads in the country.

"Not all bus drivers in Malaysia are drug addicts and it is not fair for all bus drivers to be labelled as that" he said adding that bus drivers in Malaysia are constantly demotivated and always tired due to long hours trips, without breaks and a small salary.

He also called on the government to closely monitor bus companies or operators and ensure that the drivers’ salary commensurate with the services they provide.

Abdul Aziz said the operation of a drug screening test involving about 8,600 drivers will be jointly implemented by the Road Transport Department and the National Drug Agency on a daily basis.

Driving license would be revoked immediately if the driver fails the urine test.

--ASTRO Awani 

Karpal's memorial event to take place at the KL-Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall

KUALA LUMPUR: The venue for the Karpal Singh memorial event on Thursday has been changed from SJKC Chung Kwo to the KL-Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall, Jalan Maharajalela, here.

According to DAP acting national chairman Tan Kok Wai, the reason for the change in venue is because the Education Ministry had rejected the party’s application to use the school for the event.

“I am sad the application was rejected. According to my understanding, the officer in charge told the ‘headmaster’ that the event is political and therefore not appropriate to be held at the school,” said Tan.

The event will start at 8pm where a number of political figure from the opposition such as Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Lim Kit Siang, Lim Guan Eng, Mohamad Sabu and others are scheduled to attend.

National Laureate, Datuk A. Samad Said and Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan are also scheduled to attend the event to give their speech in remembering the departure of Karpal Singh.

Also scheduled to attend the memorial service is Karpal’s son, Gobind Singh Deo to represent the late lawyer’s family.

The former DAP chairman and respected lawyer died in an accident along the North-South Highway near Gua Tempurug, Tapah on April 17.

Karpal, 74, perished on the spot following the fatal accident that occurred at about 1 am. The accident also took the life of his long-time personal assistant, Michael Cornelius, 39.

-- Astro Awani