National Day: Pre-dawn shift an honour for ‘Abang Bas’ ferrying passengers to parade ground

PUTRAJAYA: When most Malaysians were still asleep or just getting set to attend the National Day 2023 celebration at Dataran Putrajaya on Thursday (Aug 31), bus driver Mohammad Saudi Abd Sahiis was already on the road, eager to get attendees to the venue.

The Rapid KL bus driver shared his excitement at being able to serve the country by ensuring his passengers reached their destination safely to watch the parade, the highlight of the National Day celebrations.

For this special occasion, Mohammad Saudi started work at 3am, ahead of his usual day which begins at 6am in Maluri, Cheras.

Mohammad Saudi, who drives a double-decker bus, said he regarded the task of sending his passengers to Dataran Putrajaya Square for the National Day parade as a form of sacrifice and a way of expressing his love for the country.

“I’m excited to work today because even though I can’t go to see the (National Day) celebration live, just seeing the excitement on the faces of the passengers, and their eagerness to be at the celebration, makes me excited to work,” he said.

Mohammad Saudi is one of the bus captains involved in providing the free shuttle bus service from Putrajaya Sentral MRT Station to Dataran Putrajaya.

Apart from that route, Rapid KL also provides a free shuttle bus service covering the routes at Nasyrul Quran Precinct and Putrajaya Marina to Dataran Putrajaya.

Another bus driver, Ahmad Naisabury Abdul Malik, said he believed this year’s celebration would be livelier considering the number of visitors waiting to board the bus at Putrajaya Sentral station as early as 4am.

“Just looking at the huge number of people waiting (for the bus) makes me more motivated to work,” he added.

Student Nursyahirah Osmawi, 24, attending the National Day celebration for the first time, said she was very excited and decided to use public transport to avoid the headache of looking for a parking space if she were to drive there.

“Since today is a public holiday, my friend and I took the opportunity to go to Dataran Putrajaya. For me, taking public transport is more convenient and economical than driving from Damansara,” she said when met at the Putrajaya Sentral MRT station.

Sharing her view was architect Hud Bakar, 60, who drove from the federal capital to Putrajaya Sentral and then took the free shuttle bus service to Dataran Putrajaya.

“It’s easier because Putrajaya Sentral station has a lot of parking spaces. So, I can just leave my car there and take the shuttle service.

“Even early in the morning there are already many people but it’s good, it shows our Malaysian spirit in celebrating National Day and our racial unity,” said Hud, who was accompanied by his son, Kaizer Hud. – BK