“We are looking at recruiting no less than 30 bus drivers as soon as possible as we need to give them the required training. We hope to start the service very soon as it is a matter of importance for the rakyat in Kuantan and the state of Pahang as a whole,” said Datuk Shahril Mokhtar, the Group Managing Director of Syarikat Prasarana Negara Berhad (Prasarana).
Under its Bus Division, the Group administers RapidKL and RapidPenang, which are its operating arms for bus services for Klang Valley and Selangor; and Penang respectively. Established in 1998 and operational since 2002, Prasarana is a fully Government-owned company set up and mandated to transform the public transport services in the country.
In his Budget Speech, the Prime Minister announced that establishment of RapidKuantan to manage and operate the public bus services in Kuantan to help the residents overcome their transportation woes and help increase mobility in the city and connectivity between Kuantan and its surrounding areas.
Datuk Seri Najib also said that Prasarana had also been requested to manage and operate public bus services in Ipoh, Seremban, Kota Kinabalu and Kuching.
In his immediate comments, Shahril had said that Prasarana would make full use of the expertise, experience and knowledge of its bus operating arms - RapidKL and RapidPenang – in ensuring commuters in Kuantan enjoy efficient and affordable mode of traveling.
Shahril said Prasarana would immediately start works on securing a temporary depot and administrative office within the city to commence its operations.
“We have already dispatched a team to start the ground works,” he added.
“Our main priority now is getting bus drivers. As you know, there is an acute shortage of bus drivers in the country. It’s a huge challenge in getting drivers … we have this problem in Klang Valley as well as in Penang. Hopefully, we have good response in our recruitment drive,” he added.
Apart from banners, Prasarana would be putting up advertisements in newspapers and use its social media networks to publicise the recruitment drive.
For details, contact Prasarana Media Affairs Manager Azhar Ghazali at 019-3837865 or Haliza Hamid at 019-2210058
