PORT DICKSON: The bus operators' industry is now completely paralysed after being out of business for a year since the Covid-19 pandemic hit the country.
Malaysia Bus Association Secretariat (SGBM) independent committee chairman R. Thiagarajan said with some operators having gone bankrupt, he urged the government to widely utilise the industry as part of efforts to sustain the economy.
Among others, he also called on Transport Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong to play a proactive role to save the industry.
"He should help mitigate the impact suffered by operators in the industry. SGBM can work together with the ministry to play a role in managing tasks to our members, for example.
"(For example) the government should use the services of school and tour buses to transport rural residents to the vaccination centres (PPV).
"This will allow the bus operators some income to cover their management costs," he said when contacted.
Thiagarajan also suggested for a loan moratorium for affected operators whose buses have been left stranded in garages over the past year.
"This is because they still have to service their loans (made to purchase the buses) despite not having a business to run.
"Some already have their buses repossessed."