SPAD says no foreign drivers for public transport services

JOHOR BARU: It is a no foreign driver policy for public transport services.
The Land and Public Transport Commission (SPAD) chairman Tan Sri Syed Hamid Albar said foreigners will not be allowed to be drivers for public transport vehicles.
He said the public transportation industry, be it bus, taxi or lorry companies, must engage local drivers who have a valid commercial vehicle licence, good driving skill and a clean driving track record.
"The companies should also embark on training programmes for their commercial vehicle drivers so that they understand the traffic laws of the country and strictly adhere to it besides being competent and skilled drivers," he said after flagging off the Johor safe responsible drivers day at Jalan Kempas Lama here today.
He said there were already a few million legal and illegal foreign workers in the country and the government is already having its hands full looking into their problems.
Hence, he added, it was better if the public transportation industry train locals to handle public transport services.
When asked on the complaints by the public on hike in prices for public transportation, Syed Hamid said, the government is looking into it and urged all the concerned parties to be patient.
"We are aware and we will definitely look into it, including the plight of the Johor Baru- Singapore Taxi drivers," he said.
When asked to comment on the media report of the delay in the implementation of the high-speed rail link project between Kuala Lumpur and Singapore, Syed Hamid said: "There is no question of delay as we have not even started the project."
He said both countries have set the target to have the rail link by 2020.
According to earlier news reports, the project may take six to seven years to complete once construction starts by 2016 and it may miss a 2020 deadline.
The proposed rail line will reduce the 300km (180-mile) journey over land to 90 minutes from about five hours with seven stations identified - Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya, Seremban, Ayer Keroh, Muar, Batu Pahat and Nusajaya.