Secretary-general Zainal Rampak said high operating costs, low revenue and fierce competition are making it difficult for bus operators to recruit drivers, let alone pay them salaries which are competitive with other industries.

Bus drivers earn in the region of RM2,500 per month if they do overtime.

He was commenting on a government initiative involving the issue of more than 500 public service vehicle (PSV) licences for free. The cost of a PSV licence is RM2,590.

Transport minister Loke Siew Fook said the programme can help resolve the current shortage of bus drivers.

Zainal also urged the transport ministry to reform the bus system with the goal of reducing competition. He said a lack of profitability was forcing operators to exit the business.

“Why can’t the ministry call all bus operators, talk to them and ask them to merge?”

He said service duplication among competing operators leads to fewer passengers and impacts revenue and profitability.

“I suggest the minister discuss with operators and ask them to merge so they will not compete to get passengers; then they will make profits,” he said.

This, he added, will allow them to attract drivers by offering better remuneration terms.

Pan-Malaysia Bus Operators Association president Ashfar Ali said it was difficult to retain drivers in the present climate.

“The current crisis can mainly be attributed to old drivers retiring, some migrating to work in Singapore or leaving to work in other industries (for better pay) and the high entry cost of becoming a driver,” he told FMT.

He said the manpower shortage has led to disciplinary problems among existing drivers, including speeding and running red lights as they know they cannot be easily replaced.

Ashfar said the government should provide free training for those interested in becoming bus and lorry drivers.

“More drivers will ease the acute shortage of drivers in the transport and logistics industry,” he added.