SBS Bus Captain Grateful To Company For Providing Accommodation To Malaysian Drivers
Malaysians who work and study in Singapore were the most affected by Malaysia’s lockdown that started on Wednesday (18 May), banning events and causing the land borders between the countries to be eerily empty.
Our bus drivers, many of whom are Malaysians and commute to work across the Causeway daily, weren’t spared. Our bus companies, however, were gracious enough to put them up in hotels so that they can continue to work.
Now, an SBS Transit bus captain has revealed that the transport operator’s Malaysian bus captains were not only provided hotels to stay in, they were also given a $20 daily allowance and transport to their hotels.
Many bus drivers were at a loss due to Malaysia lockdown
In a heartfelt Facebook post early on Wednesday (18 Mar) morning, netizen Joe Lim, who identified himself as an SBS bus captain, revealed that bus captains who travel back and forth between Malaysia and Singapore every day were dealt a blow by the news of Malaysia’s lockdown.
In the post, written entirely in Mandarin, Mr Lim also said that the bus captains were plagued by worries about their work, families and accommodation.
A helping hand from his company
“Fortunately, the company, in this critical moment, extended a helping hand,” he added.
Not only did the company provide “starred hotels” – i.e. hotels of decent quality – it also provided bus transportation for their workers to get to the hotels, as well as a daily allowance of $20 for every Malaysian bus captain who stayed in Singapore.
Comfortable temporary lodgings that are better than home
Mr Lim also posted some of photos of the type of accommodation provided to the bus Malaysian bus captains. We think they look even better than home!
The beds look comfortable and well-made.
There’s ample closet space and a safe.
The toilet is clean and well-stocked.
There’s even a bathtub to relax in!
Mr Lim also posted a photo of a hotel building. While he did not identify the hotel, the photo he posted corresponds to that of the Village Hotel Bugis (formerly the Golden Landmark Hotel).
Happy for his colleagues despite not being eligible for the benefits
Mr Lim, however, was not eligible for the benefits as he actually stays in Singapore.
Despite that, he said he was still happy for his colleagues, as the company was taking care of them.
He also added that it makes him feel that “being an SBS bus captain is an honour”.
Going the extra mile to make lives easier for those affected
Amid this time of uncertainty, it’s nice to know that some companies are going the extra mile to provide comfort for those affected by the myriad restrictions brought upon by Covid-19, and ensure that life goes on as normal.
It can’t be easy for the Malaysian bus captains to be separated from their families for two weeks, but hopefully the hotel accommodation and daily allowance will at least make this period of their lives more comfortable.
We hope life gets back to normal soon, and the bus captains enjoy their comfy lodgings in the meantime!
Featured image adapted from Facebook.
