Feedback on Language Abilities of Bus Captains

Mr Muhamad Faisal Bin Abdul Manap asked the Minister for Transport (a) for each year from 2012 to 2014, what is the number of public feedback received on the language abilities of bus captains, in particular their ability to converse in English; and (b) for a legitimate feedback, what are the steps taken to rectify the problem.

Mr Lui Tuck Yew: Over the past three years, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) has received around 200 pieces of feedback relating to the language abilities of bus captains, most of which were on their ability to converse in English.

Currently, all bus captains are required to demonstrate basic competency in conversational English before being deployed. Upon receiving a legitimate piece of feedback, LTA will inform the Public Transport Operators, who will send the bus captain for a refresher course. The bus captain will be redeployed only after passing a language test.