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Okay, finally I understand why Penang bus service sux and need a revamp, and why everytime the government efforts failed badly. It’s been quite some time since my last time took ride by public bus, hmm…about 2-3 years back. Frankly speaking, the bus sytem is getting worse. When the bus company being assigned to certain routes, they should perform their “duty” and be responsible. They shouldn’t be 101% money minded all the time, they should care about the people who taking bus everyday as their transportation mode. I’m quite sad to see Penang bus service reach till such stage. Why ? Because today (Saturday) I’ve just EXPERIENCED it myself.

This is a story about a guy….who frustrated about Penang bus service….haha, the story begins:-

On Thursday, I wanted to went to my college to sign and take some stuff but however, the person I wanted to meet was not around. Again, I thought I can pass the application form to Desmond, since he’s going to college as well, so he can pass my form and took some stuff for me. However, the person in charge told Desmond that we need to submit photocopies of our certificates. Since there’s no other choice, I have to come myself to Penang to submit those photocopies of certificates but if I just travel all the way to college, it would be just a waste of money, calculating from the Penang Bridge tol and petrol cost since I’ve nothing else to do after i submit my stuff to the person in charge at my college.

In the end, I choose to take ferry to Penang where my mum drop us (since my bro got nothing 2 do, he wanted to come along) at Butterworth ferry terminal. Then we took ferry to Penang. From Penang, I’ve planned with Desmond for him to pick us up. However, when he’s coming out from his house, nearby Farlim (or anywhere, not sure the place) there’s an accident involving big lorry and the road was jammed so badly that in the end, he told us to either took bus ourselves to college or might need to wait about 1/2 hour more(we already waited for about 15-20min++). Since the weather was quite hot that time (about 1 pm) I see there’s so many bus around, so I told Desmond we’ll handle ourselves.

But NO, I’ve made wrong decision to choose taking bus ourselves to my college. Compare to last time, it’s much more easier. Since nowadays, the bus companies are given different routes, things are getting worse. Why ? Because the bus won’t move unless there’re many passengers inside the bus. I went around and asked which bus will go to Macalister Road or Burmah Road which sounds like dis:-

Scene #1
Me: Bang, bus mana ada pi Macalister Road ?
Bang #1: Oh, Burmah Road, itu bas “biru-putih” *pointing at the bus color*
Me: Okay, terima kasih.

So, I went nearer to the bus “biru-putih” and looking if there’s any bus driver around to ask which bus I should get in. Sigh, I saw nobody near the bus so I decided to ask around again second time in case there’s other bus going the same route. I walked around bus “merah-putih” area to ask second guy as below:-

Scene #2
Me: Bang, Bang, bus mana ada pi Macalister Road ?
Bang #2: Macalister Road ? Tak ada, itu bus “biru-putih” ada pigi Burmah Road *again pointing at blue and white color bus*
Me: Oh, itu bus “biru-putih” saja kar ? Tak ada bus lain ?
Bang #2: Tak ada.
Me: Okey, terima kasih.

Later on, I saw a driver walking towards the blue and white color bus with about 3-4 passsenger going up the bus. Again, I confirmed with the bus driver with my destination and he nodded. I pay the bus fare for my brother and I then we sat inside the bus. I guess the bus already parked there for quite some time before he decided he has to start driving already. As usual, normally most of the bus will stop at Komtar-Prangin Mall to drop/pick up more passengers.

Upon reaching Komtar-Prangin Mall bus area, I am so shocked to see such a long queue of people waiting for the same bus I’m inside. Okay, I don’t bother, maybe that day many people taking bus or just that the bus driver was late. The bus driver slowly taking the bus fare and letting more and more people inside the bus. There’s even a bus terminal helper (err, i’m not sure what should he be called as, he just shout the destination for the bus) shouting to the passengers inside the bus.

Idiot Bus Helper: Tolong masuk dalam sikit, orang lain nak masuk! *keep repeating*

He is shouting to those passenger which are already standing. The damm bus already packed like sardin fish inside the canned food but the damm bus driver don’t want to move yet. And his assistant keep on yelling to attract more people to take the bus. At last when the bus is full of passengers until the staircase also got people standing, poor thing, haih…When our bus start moving slowly, I saw an old lady waving to stop the bus, I assume she wanted to get in also. But in my heart, I’ve been thinking…”Auntie, u better don’t come in or else if can’t breath or choked to death inside the bus, u’ll die without realise what is the damm reason you die for” which is the TRUTH and I’m not cursing the old lady to die or what.

With such a bus driver attitude and a bus full overloaded of passengers. I wonder if there’ll be newspaper headline such as “MATI DI DALAM BAS….KERANA SESAK NAFAS”. Okay, to cut the story short. I reached my college and I pressed the bell. The bus stopped but I couldn’t get down because too many people is standing. In the end, they need to step out of the bus in order to let me and my brother down from the bus. The funny thing is to watch those people standing at staircase went down to the road and then step back to the staircase. (as if they’re the bus helper, lol)

What is your feeling when you pay for the ride and you not only have to stand, but stand near the staircase with the door open which is nothing more than DANGER to yourself ?

I wonder whether there is any officer to come in the bus to check the maximum of passengers in a bus or the authorities will fine the bus company for taking overloaded bus passengers ?

*to be continue*

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