Woman sits on man driving bus in M'sia, police looking for the 36-year-old married driver

An express bus driver in Malaysia has been fired and is expected to give a statement to the police after a video emerged showing a woman sitting on his lap while the bus was travelling along a highway.

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The eight-second clip, which circulated on social media, showed the woman seated on the driver’s lap while the vehicle was in motion.

Another part of the footage showed her appearing to hold the steering wheel while the bus was travelling on a highway.

A separate dashcam video also allegedly showed the bus cutting into another lane in a dangerous manner.

Initial police investigations found that the incident took place at about 7:30pm on Apr. 12 near the southbound entrance ramp of Bemban R&R area in Melaka, reported Free Malaysia Today.

Police said they became aware of the video after it went viral on Apr. 13 at about 5.30pm.

Driver fired

Bus operator Sri Maju Group said it had terminated the driver’s employment with immediate effect, describing the behaviour captured in the video as “deeply disappointing” and “completely unacceptable”.

The company said the driver’s conduct amounted to a serious breach of its standard operating procedures and did not reflect the professional code of conduct expected of its employees.

Sri Maju also confirmed that the bus had been travelling from Terminal Bersepadu Selatan to Johor Bahru, and said reports had been lodged with police and the Land Public Transport Agency:

“We extend our most sincere and unconditional apology to all affected passengers and to the public. Every public transport user deserves safe, responsible, and professional service at all times."

The company apologised to affected passengers and the public, adding that surveillance systems had already been installed in its newer buses, while installation for older buses was being accelerated.

Police say driver is married

Jasin police chief Lee Robert said officers had contacted the driver, who was in Sungai Besi, and that he would appear with the woman involved for questioning, as reported by The Star.

He said:

"The woman is in Kedah and will head to Kuala Lumpur tonight and both of them will come to the Jasin District Police Headquarters on Wednesday (Apr. 15)."

Authorities later confirmed that the driver is a 36-year-old married man believed to live in Johor, according to the New Straits Times, though police said they had yet to establish the identity of the woman or her relationship with him.

Police added that they viewed the matter seriously because it involved a public service vehicle carrying passengers.

The case comes amid another recent police manhunt in Malaysia, after a Pakistani detainee escaped from prison custody during a transfer and remained at large as of Apr. 14.

Top images via nor.fazzlan/Facebook