Public bus company boss helps blind man bullied by driver
By STEPHEN THEN
stephenthen@thestar.com.my
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?fi … ec=sarawak
MIRI: The boss of a public bus company has personally intervened to help a blind man who was allegedly bullied by one of his drivers.
James Ensering, a visually impaired man from Tudan Squatter Resettlement Scheme, had complained that a bus driver working for Miri Transport Company (MTC) had threatened him with physical harm and had refused to allow him on his bus following some misunderstandings yesterday and the day before.
Ensering claimed that [size=150]the driver had threatened to gouge out his eyes and beat him if he came across his path again.[/size]
Before that, Ensering had scolded the driver for not allowing him to board his bus. The driver said that disabled people had no money to pay the fare.
A local reporter, who heard about Enserings plight, alerted MTC general manager Yeo Yow Shun.
Yeo immediately asked the reporter to arrange for Ensering to meet him in his office so that he could investigate what had happened.
After listening to Ensering, Yeo called up his station master and told the driver concerned to call him instantly. Within five minutes, the driver called Yeo.
Yeo was heard warning the driver never to act aggressively against any passenger, especially those who are disabled.
You dont bully any passenger. If disabled persons have no money to pay the fares, you let them on board free of charge.
These people are already facing a lot of difficulties and hardship in life. They have no other means of transportation. Be kind to them, he said.
Yeo also told Ensering to continue using the bus and assured him that the driver would not be allowed to intimidate and bully him again.
Ensering thanked Yeo and said that he was complaining because he was afraid for his safety after being threatened by the driver.
Yeo assured the public that most of his bus drivers are considerate and that the bullying incident was an isolated case.
MTC operates city routes in Miri, stage buses and also express buses from here to Bintulu, Sibu and all the way to Kuching.
Yeo said there must be better laws in place to safeguard the needs of the needy, such as the handicapped, the blind, and the aged.
I will send out a circular to all my drivers to tell them that the disabled who are poor must be given free transportation, he said.
For disabled passengers on long-distance trips from Miri to other urban centres in Sarawak, they will be given special discounts, he said.