Annual Cases of Abuse and Assaults against Bus Captains

The following question stood in the name of Mr Desmond Choo –

23 To ask the Minister for Transport (a) how many substantiated cases of abuse committed against bus captains were there in each of the last three years; and (b) what further steps have been taken to improve the protection of bus captains in the course of their work.

24 Mr Melvin Yong Yik Chye asked the Minister for Transport (a) how many cases of assault against bus captains are reported annually in the past five years; (b) what are the penalties taken against the assailants; and (c) whether protective shields will be installed in our public buses to enhance protection.

Mr Melvin Yong Yik Chye (Radin Mas): Question No 23.

The Senior Minister of State for Transport (Mr Chee Hong Tat) (for the Minister for Transport): Mr Speaker, may I have your permission to take Question Nos 23 and 24 together?

Mr Speaker: Yes, please.

Mr Chee Hong Tat: Thank you, Sir. We have shared previously in this House that the Government, our public transport operators, or PTOs, and the National Transport Workers’ Union, or NTWU, take a united and firm position against physical and verbal abuse of bus captains by a small minority of errant commuters. Let me be clear that there is zero tolerance for such behaviours and commuters who abuse our bus captains will face serious consequences, including jail time.

There were 26 bus captain abuse cases by passengers reported by our PTOs in 2018, 52 in 2019, 50 in 2020, 35 in 2021, and 27 in 2022 thus far.

Perpetrators may be prosecuted for offences under the Protection from Harassment Act and be liable on conviction for an imprisonment term of up to 12 months, a fine of up to $5,000, or both. They could also be charged for voluntarily causing hurt under the Penal Code, which carries an imprisonment term of up to three years, a fine of up to $5,000, or both. Members may have read from recent media reports on offenders who were jailed and fined for abusing our bus captains.

The installation of protective barriers in buses was trialled in 2018 and again in 2020. However, these were discontinued as bus captains had provided feedback that the glare from the barriers posed a safety risk when driving.

Sir, the large majority of commuters are law abiding and some go the extra mile to show their appreciation to our bus captains and public transport workers. I thank these commuters for their kind words and encouragement. These acts of kindness are very much appreciated by our public transport workers and they form part of the efforts to build a more gracious and considerate commuting culture.

Mr Speaker: Mr Melvin Yong.

Mr Melvin Yong Yik Chye: Thank you, Sir. I thank the Senior Minister of State for his reply and also the assurance given. I declare my interest. I am the Executive Secretary of the National Transport Workers' Union.

I could see that the numbers have gradually come down. But I think the recent cases of abuse are quite a concern. I would like to ask the Senior Minister of State whether there are any plans to review the penalties, given that the last time the penalties were updated was quite a number of years ago.

Mr Chee Hong Tat: Sir, I would support Mr Melvin Yong's proposal that we need to regularly review the deterrents that we have against such behaviours. As I have said, our policy position – and this is not just that of the Government but also that of the PTOs and the unions – the tripartite position is clear. We have zero tolerance for such abusive behaviours towards our public transport workers and if the existing measures are not adequate, we are prepared to look at reviewing them.

But as it stands now, as Mr Melvin Yong pointed out, the trend is in the right direction. So, we will continue this approach of working closely together with our tripartite partners and also to promote a more gracious, considerate commuting culture. That, I think, is going to be key.

12.30 pm

Mr Speaker: Order. End of Question Time. Introduction of Government Bills.

[Pursuant to Standing Order No 22(3), Written Answers to Question Nos 21, 25-35, 37-40, 44-48, 51, 54-59, 62, 69-71, 73-75, 81, 83, 86-90 and 92 on the Order Paper are reproduced in the Appendix. The remaining Questions have been postponed to a later Sitting of Parliament or withdrawn.]