Another bus driver attacked by passenger
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'Hold bus until I finish smoking'
Man punches driver who says no
By Hedy Khoo
10 June 2007
HE flagged a bus but didn't board it immediately after it stopped for him.
The reason - he was still puffing away at his cigarette and he wanted the bus driver to wait for him until he was done.
When the driver told the man he couldn't do so, he grudgingly stubbed out the cigarette and boarded the bus with a friend.
While on board, he created a ruckus.
Then, he bashed up the driver.
According to one witness, he hit the driver while the bus was moving.
The attack happened last Wednesday around 7.55 pm.
The man appeared to be in his 30s.
He boarded the number 124 bus opposite Tan Tock Seng Hospital on Moulmein Road.
According to SBS Transit, the man, who was smoking, asked the bus driver to wait for him to finish his cigarette before boarding.
Bus driver Wong Hing Keong, 44, explained he couldn't, as that wouldn't be fair to other passengers.
The man then put out his cigarette, boarded the bus with a friend and sat in the front.
Soon, he started to scold Mr Wong using vulgar language.
SBS Transit said he got up and kicked the door of the driver's cabin. He also grabbed the driver and hit him.
Mr Wong stopped the bus by the side of the road.
SBS Transit said the man walked up to Mr Wong, caught hold of his collar and continued to hurl abuse.
Two of Mr Wong's shirt buttons were ripped off.
The passenger punched the bus captain on the back of his head. The man's friend then pulled him away and they went back to their seats.
One passenger, who wanted to be identified only as Tom, said he witnessed the incident.
Tom, 27, a restaurant supervisor, told The New Paper: 'I heard the bus driver explain to him why he couldn't stop the bus to wait for him to finish smoking. The bus driver was quite polite.'
Tom, who was seated on the left, in the second row from the front, confirmed that the man, who wore a singlet and bermudas, shouted vulgarities at the driver.
According to him, the bus driver became upset and asked the passenger why he had used vulgarities on him.
An argument started.
'The man suddenly got up, went to the bus driver and started raining punches on him, hitting the driver on his head and body,' said Tom.
'I was shocked because the driver was driving at that time, and the bus was moving in the middle of the road,' said Tom.
Tom said there was a scuffle after the bus pulled to a stop.
'The man's friend tried to pull him away, but he was too violent, and the friend simply went back to his seat,' he recounted.
Tom added: 'Nobody else did anything because all the passengers were too shocked and the scuffle lasted for only two minutes.'
'The fight ended when the bus driver shouted at the man to stop and said he would report the matter to the police.'
The driver stopped the bus opposite Quality Hotel on Balestier Road, and called for assistance from the control centre, keeping the doors locked.
According to SBS Transit, Mr Wong alerted the operations control centre and a traffic inspector was despatched to assist him.
POLICE NOTIFIED
The police were also notified. They said the alleged assailant will be helping in the ongoing investigations.
The New Paper was unable to reach Mr Wong as he was on three days of medical leave.
After the assault, he had been sent to Tan Tock Seng Hospital for observation and an X-ray, because he had complained of pain in the head and dizziness.
This latest incident brings the total number of assault cases on bus captains this year to 16.
SBS Transit said there were 14 such cases last year. -
Full scale civil war and self-destruction over small matters like this.Originally posted by ngjy22:Wonder how will our future Singapore be like...
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should tell these roughians to go to other countries eg malaysia, indonesia, china and thrash up their bus drivers there and then see what will happen!
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LOLL. my fren was there. hahas
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the papers also mentioned SBS means Stop Beating Our Staff.
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tis man get away from jail?
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if thats the case, it only shows how weak our authorities and law enforcers are. but if a rich man kanna beaten, i bet its a totally different outcome!Originally posted by patdog112:tis man get away from jail? -
No scot-free ride for bus bullies
Letter from Toh Boon Ngee,
Assistant Director,
Media Relations (Covering),
Public Affairs Department,
Singapore Police Force
We refer to the article, "Attacks on bus drivers up; SBS fights back (June 22)".
The Police view all cases of assault on bus drivers seriously as they are of public concern affecting public safety and order. The Police share the view that bus drivers should not be intimidated or have their safety compromised in the course of their work. Neither would acts of hooliganism be condoned.
While bus drivers are not considered public servants under the law and incidents of assault may be considered voluntarily causing hurt under Section 323 of the Penal Code, the Police will proceed to seek the necessary powers to lawfully investigate and prosecute the offenders.
In the 14 and 18 cases reported in 2006 and in 2007 (to date) respectively, police investigations were initiated into all these cases except in instances when the driver did not wish to pursue the matter.
The public should continue to report such incidents. When alerted, the Police will respond immediately and take firm action against the assailants to ensure that they do not get away scot-free. -
actually i find that bus captains of sbs are very nice...instead i'd like to urge those hot-blooded gangsters to bash up more taxi drivers instead of bus drivers
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Ya. Some SBST drivers are very courteous . Got one time took SBS185B . When slowing down , the bus engine stalled , causing a total blackout ( happened at night) . The BC managed to restart the engine soon after . I went forward to talk with the BC what had happened . He kindly explained to me that it was the engine's fuel flow being disrupted . We chatted with each other , since we are stucked in a jam as well . He also showed me his time table sheet and said that he was going to be late due to the jam .Originally posted by No_10_Tomas:actually i find that bus captains of sbs are very nice...instead i'd like to urge those hot-blooded gangsters to bash up more taxi drivers instead of bus drivers
Then there was this BC on 970 , driving a Scania Strider bus , think it was TIB565U (before the crash) . I told him that the bell at the emergency exit had spoilt . But he replied me in a rather rude or hastened essence .
But not all SMRT SL are like that . Some SL i know are friendly as well . -
Almost 70 percent of the SMRT BCs are Malaysians, not to say they are not good, but they come from all types of background, some are well groomed and work only as a part time basis, for some, they are 'forced' to work here, no choice, and sometimes they grow impatient of life...
I have met nice and 'ugly' Malaysian BCs before too... Some good ones are really role models in life... -
I knew one Malaysian BC who drives TIB541M on 920/922 . he is by far the most friendly malaysian BC i've ever met on SMRT buses . I like to chat with him also .Originally posted by jetabt767400:Almost 70 percent of the SMRT BCs are Malaysians, not to say they are not good, but they come from all types of background, some are well groomed and work only as a part time basis, for some, they are 'forced' to work here, no choice, and sometimes they grow impatient of life...
I have met nice and 'ugly' Malaysian BCs before too... Some good ones are really role models in life...
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The BC I knew was on svc 106, drove TIB1214B on Christmas eve last year, took his bus through the whole night... Really nice BC...Originally posted by Scania N113CRB luver:I knew one Malaysian BC who drives TIB541M on 920/922 . he is by far the most friendly malaysian BC i've ever met on SMRT buses . I like to chat with him also .
Now he drives 1032J most of the time... -
The problem of some SL is because of the hectic time schedule during weekdays.But still is not an excuse for being rude.SMRTB full time 65%Malaysian 30% Singaporean 5% Foreigners,Part-Timers 90% Singaporeans 10% Malaysians
SBST Full time 75& Malaysians 15% Singaporeans & 10% Foreigners