I would like to call on authorities to consider upgrading our public transport system.
As a regular bus rider from the Tutong District, there are a number of issues that desperately need to be ironed out.
These days, it would be hard pressed to find a bus that arrives on time. Often, passengers have to wait between 30 and 45 minutes past the scheduled time, making it a stressful affair for those who have an important appointment in the capital. There is also confusion over whether buses destined for Seria or Kuala Belait actually makes a stop in Tutong.
From my experience, some do but most of them don’t.
Then, there is the issue of passengers’ comfort. These buses tend to lack air-conditioning and are most often dirty. The long journey from Tutong to Bandar Seri Begawan can be a painful experience. And on the off-chance that I have company, it is challenging to hold a conversation over the loud engine noise.
Since there are not enough bus stops along the route, drivers tend to pull up in seemingly random places. It depends on where the passengers want to get off, and not whether it is safe to do so.
While it is true that car ownership is incredibly high in our country, there is a minority of us – the underprivileged, senior citizens and foreign workers – who depend on public transport to take us from Point A to Point B. With Brunei Vision 2035 just slightly over a decade away, it would be good if our quality of life is also being taken into consideration when authorities work towards reaching our nation’s goals.
Tutong Bus Passenger
