By Siti Azila Alias
GEORGE TOWN, July 31 (Bernama) -- The duty of a bus captain (driver) goes beyond simply transporting passengers to their destinations; it demands patience, integrity and a strong sense of responsibility for the safety of every life on board.
For Rahmat Hamid, 58, his 19 years of service with Rapid Penang have been rich with diverse experiences, from navigating busy and challenging routes to dealing with passenger behaviours.
However, the most touching moment for the father of two came recently when a group of Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) students who had completed their studies waited specifically for his bus to give him a present.
“I didn’t expect them to wait for me. They told me they had completed their studies and wanted to give me a gift before going home. They felt indebted because I would always wait for them even when they were late.
“I told them there was no need for a gift; it’s my responsibility. Besides, I felt sorry for them when I saw them running to catch the bus. But they insisted, and that’s what touched me,” he said in an interview with Bernama in conjunction with Rapid Penang’s 19th anniversary at the Sungai Nibong depot recently.
In addition to gifts such as a prayer mat and prayer beads as tokens of appreciation, he was also moved that throughout the two years on the USM route, the students always brought him food.
“I often wait for students, including those running from afar to catch the bus, especially if they are rushing for classes or exams.
“Some even wait specifically for my bus although others have arrived. Sometimes they make TikTok videos on the bus, and I just went along with it because they are like my own children,” he said.
Rahmat had 15 years of experience as a bus driver before joining Rapid Penang in 2007 and was among the earliest batch of bus captains who joined Rapid Penang before the company began operations.
He also recalled a humorous incident when passengers refused to get off the bus just to enjoy a ride during the company’s first three days of free service.
Throughout his service, Rahmat has operated nearly all routes on the island, including to Balik Pulau, Teluk Bahang, Air Itam and Bayan Lepas. He admitted that the Balik Pulau and Teluk Bahang routes were the most challenging due to narrow, winding and often congested roads.
“A bus captain must always remain calm and never rush, especially when dealing with traffic congestion or other road users.
“You need a lot of patience because every day you face different passenger behaviours and road conditions. Without patience, you won’t last long in this job,” he said.
For him, passenger safety is always the top priority whenever he is behind the wheel, and he admitted that the responsibility of ensuring everyone’s safety can be worrying at times.
Rahmat said he has faced various situations, including being scolded by passengers over delays and dealing with dissatisfied road users when he honks for space, but he chooses to remain calm and avoid escalating tensions.
He stressed that integrity remains a core value, especially when handling valuable items left behind on the bus, such as cash, laptops, wallets and passports, which he ensures are handed over to the relevant counters for owners to reclaim.
On his daily routine, Rahmat said he wakes up as early as 3.45 am and arrives early at the depot to ensure his bus is in good condition before starting his first trip at 6 am.
The 2008 Best Captain Award recipient has not taken sick leave in the past three years, as he is mindful of regular passengers who depend on early morning bus service to get to work.
“The first trip is very important. If I don’t come in, the replacement bus might be late, and passengers will have to wait,” he said.
With two years left before retirement, Rahmat, who lost his wife last year to a lung infection, admitted it will be difficult to leave a career that has become part of his life.
“I am attached to this job. I’m grateful to work with Rapid Penang because staff welfare is well taken care of. To me, being a bus captain is not just about getting passengers to their destinations, but also about serving the community and ensuring everyone arrives safely,” he said.
After nearly two decades of service, he hopes more young people will see the role of a bus captain as a noble profession, one that goes beyond driving to carrying the responsibility of public safety.
-- BERNAMA