The express bus driver seen in a viral video driving while a woman was sitting on his lap has been confirmed to be a married man, police said.
Jasin district police chief Lee Robert stated that initial investigations found the 36-year-old driver is married, while the woman seen in the footage is believed to be an acquaintance of his.
He said both individuals have been called in to provide statements to assist investigations into the incident, which has sparked widespread public concern over road safety.
“We have instructed both parties to come forward to the Jasin district traffic investigation and enforcement division to assist in the investigation,” he said on Tuesday.
Police believe the incident occurred at around 7.30pm on April 12 near the Bemban Rest and Service Area (southbound) exit, before the video surfaced online the following day.
Authorities said the nine-second clip was detected by police at about 5.30pm on April 13. The footage showed the driver engaging in behaviour deemed highly dangerous, as it could affect vehicle control, distract the driver, and endanger passengers as well as other road users.
The case is being investigated under Section 42(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987 for reckless and dangerous driving.
Members of the public with information have been urged to contact Investigating Officer Inspector Marwan Shafiq Mohd Latfi or visit the nearest police station to assist in the probe.
The incident previously went viral after showing the driver of a bus travelling from Terminal Bersepadu Selatan (TBS) in Kuala Lumpur to Larkin Sentral in Johor Bahru allegedly driving while a woman sat on his lap, triggering public outrage over safety concerns.
Following the incident, Sri Maju Group issued an apology and confirmed that the driver had been terminated with immediate effect.
