GEORGE TOWN: School bus and van drivers in the state have been struggling to make ends meet in recent months after not getting any income, especially since last month.
Some of them, approached by the New Straits Times today, lamented how they had to look for part-time jobs to supplement their income.
Hasni Hamid, 48, who has been driving a school van for almost 20 years, said since the numerous phases of the Movement Control Order (MCO) were enforced, her income had dropped by between 70 and 80 per cent.
To compound matters, the mother-of-three said for last month and this month, she did not earn a single sen following the closure of schools.
"My income has dropped gradually since March this year and worsened in recent months.
"I couldn't look for any part-time job then as I was tied to my primary job as a school van driver. Now, I am left with no choice but to work as a part-time factory bus driver to supplement my income.
"Even then, I only earn about RM40 a trip and only for selected days in a month.
"I really hope the government will help us out," she said, adding that she was lucky as she had paid for her van.
Hasni used to earn about RM5,000 a month but that amount dropped to just RM1,200 during the MCO.
Sharing her sentiments is Shamsiah Shamsuri, 48, who said her income too had dropped by 80 per cent.
Shamsiah had just bought a new van last December.
"I am lucky that the bank has extended my moratorium until this month. But what happens after this? I need to pay RM1,800 monthly. I hope the moratorium can continue until the Covid-19 pandemic improves.
"I hardly earned anything in the last few months. Many parents also approached me to ask to delay their payments to me. What can I do? I understand their hardship too," she said.
Shamsiah now works as a drop-ship for 'kek mamasab' and earns about RM500 monthly to supplement her income.
Two of her three children are staying at the local universities, which incur high costs.
Shamsiah and her husband Rosli Jusoh, 52, are both school van drivers, earned a joint income of RM8,000 a month prior to the MCO.
Now, their income has dropped by 80 per cent.
Both Hasni and Shamsiah were met after receiving food aid from Pertubuhan Kebajikan Ihsan Muda Pulau Pinang president Muhd Arshad Abdul Rahman.
Arshad said the initiative was taken to help reduce the burden of the school bus and van drivers in the state.
"Today, we presented aid to some 50 school bus and van drivers. We have about 350 people on our list, which we will do in stages due to the standard operating procedures (SOP)," he added.
