A bus ride from Penang to Mersing, Johor, on Sunday (June 15) took a tense turn when a passenger confronted the driver for allegedly speeding and watching TikTok while driving.
The altercation, caught on video and shared widely on TikTok, has sparked public concern over passenger safety on express buses.
In the now-viral 58-second clip, a man is heard scolding the driver, accusing him of endangering lives after previous polite warnings were ignored.
“Don’t you think about other people’s lives? Are you stupid? I’ve been patient, but the way you drive is getting worse. Don’t you care about people’s lives? Are you crazy? I’ve been holding it in since earlier,” he shouted, visibly upset.
The outburst came after the passenger allegedly witnessed the driver scrolling through TikTok on his phone while speeding.
According to TikTok user Daya Dayana, who uploaded the clip, the situation escalated only after several failed attempts to get the driver to slow down.
Passenger Claims Warnings Were Ignored
Daya Dayana also claimed the driver had refused to take earlier advice from passengers and instead increased the bus’s speed.
“When advised politely, he drove even faster. Only after someone blew up did he drive normally. There are so many young children on this bus—such a selfish driver.”
The passenger who raised his voice was identified in another TikTok post by @/lahabdul88 as the brother-in-law of the account owner.
According to the post, the driver had told passengers to drive the bus themselves if they weren’t happy, further aggravating tensions on board.
Children on Board Were Distressed
Additionally, cries from distressed children were audible in the video.
The bus was reportedly carrying numerous passengers, including young children, which raised the stakes for their safety.
In one portion of the video, the furious passenger can be heard yelling:
“If the bus overturns, everyone will die, you idiot! I’ve been patient and telling you since earlier. If you want to die, go die alone!”
Public Reaction and Calls for Accountability
The video has prompted a wave of strong reactions online, with many Malaysians expressing support for the passenger who stood up and voiced concerns for everyone on board.
“Every bus needs a brave passenger like this,” one netizen commented, praising the passenger’s courage.
“I feel so satisfied hearing this, thank you so much. To those backing up the bus driver, think again. Haven’t you learned from what’s happened before? The driver is entrusted with many lives on that bus; it’s like carrying people’s lives. Can’t they just drive normally, not like they’re on a roller coaster? Is it really true that if you don’t speed, you won’t reach your destination? Just think about it for a moment.”
“Thank you on behalf of all of us who ride buses only to have the driver speed like they’re in a race to see who gets there the fastest.”
‘Good that someone spoke up like this. Talking nicely didn’t work.”
Many are now calling for stricter oversight of express bus services. Suggestions from the public include:
- Requiring express buses to install dashcams and CCTV systems
- Introducing psychometric testing for drivers, similar to civil servant recruitment.
- Having Road Transport Department (JPJ) officers ride along on certain routes for real-time monitoring.
Bus Arrived Safely, But Questions Remain
Despite the alarming incident, the bus eventually arrived safely in Mersing. According to BFM, the driver did slow down after the confrontation, and no injuries were reported.
Still, the episode has renewed anxiety among Malaysians about long-distance bus travel, especially in the wake of recent deadly crashes.
Similar but Unrelated Incident
Just last week, a horrific bus accident killed 15 students from Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI). The incident happened in the early hours of June 9, along the East-West Highway in Hulu Perak.
The bus, carrying 42 students, overturned after allegedly speeding and colliding with a car. Survivor Nur Irdina Huri, 22, said the driver had been speeding moments before the crash.
She escaped by crawling through a hole in the bus, while many others were not as fortunate.
Read more about the incident here.
Watch the videos here:
@lahabdul88 Nasihat Dah Bagi Siap Dia Suruh Kita Pulak Bawak Bas..Ini Makan Dia…Harap Hang Menyesal Kerja Sebagai Driver Bas Lepas Ni…KL > Mersing SMM7773 Bas Plate Number
@dayadayana532 Bawak bas macam tak da hari esok bila dah accident mati semua depa kata brekk tak makan la brek xdak la padahal dok race atas jalan..paling best drive sambil layan tiktok wey.. #bas
More from Wake Up Singapore:-
“The Driver Was Speeding”: UPSI Student Survives Fatal Bus Crash by Crawling Out Through Hole
Man and Woman Caught in Physical Altercation on Bogotá’s TransMilenio Bus
Off-Duty Japanese Policewoman Drives Over Speed Limit, Flees Police Chase
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