
Johor Bahru bus drivers strike disrupts Singapore commute
'I was shocked, there was no information at all (on a strike),' he said.
Passengers arriving as early as 5 am found no bus services, forcing some to walk one to two kilometres across the Johor Causeway to reach workplaces in Singapore.
Saiful, who had to walk nearly two kilometres to Woodlands before getting a ride back to Tampoi, expressed frustration over the lack of prior notice.
'This situation is not only inconvenient but also affects our work and image,' he told Bernama.
A viral video showed crowds at BSI at 5.30 am due to the halted bus services.
Reports suggest the strike stemmed from drivers' dissatisfaction over salary adjustments and allowance cuts, allegedly reducing their monthly pay from RM2,800-RM2,900 to below RM2,000.
Another passenger, K. Ramesh, 40, called the situation 'ridiculous,' urging the bus company to resolve the issue swiftly.
'This affects our daily routine and careers,' he said.
Bus driver Atoi, 35, confirmed about 100 drivers began striking at 5 am in protest.
By evening, services resumed, with no further disruptions observed.
Johor Public Works Committee chairman Mohamad Fazli Mohamad Salleh confirmed the incident, having monitored operations with Singapore's LTA and bus operators earlier. – Bernama

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles

Malay Mail
8 minutes ago
- Malay Mail
Bursa faces choppy week ahead as US tariff decision looms, says analyst
KUALA LUMPUR, July 26 — The risk of higher United States (US) tariffs on Malaysia as the Aug 1 deadline draws near is likely to weigh on Bursa Malaysia next week, although domestically-oriented counters are expected to remain relatively resilient, supported by firm internal demand and fiscal tailwinds. UOB Kay Hian Wealth Advisors Sdn Bhd head of investment research Mohd Sedek Jantan said volatility is expected to intensify as markets approach a critical inflection point in global trade policy. 'Domestically-oriented counters on Bursa Malaysia are likely to remain relatively resilient. However, export-driven sectors may continue to face pressure in the absence of a favourable resolution to the tariff negotiations,' he told Bernama. He noted that no formal announcement has been made on the revised US tariff schedule for Malaysia. 'Should Malaysia succeed in securing a rate below the symbolic 20 per cent threshold, we anticipate renewed investor interest, particularly in the manufacturing and electrical and electronics sectors. Until then, most investors are expected to adopt a wait-and-see approach, prioritising capital preservation over risk-taking,' he said. Regionally, market focus is shifting towards renewed US–China trade diplomacy as Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng is set to lead high-level negotiations in Sweden from July 27–30, ahead of the expiry of the 90-day tariff suspension on Aug 12. 'The outcome will be instrumental in shaping regional trade sentiment and broader market tone heading into August,' Mohd Sedek said. Globally, investor attention remains fixed on a packed US macroeconomic calendar, particularly with the upcoming the Federal Open Market Committee meeting on July 30, the June Personal Consumption Expenditure inflation print and July non-farm payrolls, which will provide important policy signals. Rakuten Trade Sdn Bhd equity research vice-president Thong Pak Leng said market participants will turn their focus to China's July Purchasing Managers Index as well as Eurozone Consumer Price Index. For the week just ended, optimism spurred by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's 'appreciation package' and renewed confidence in domestic fiscal support lifted utilities and consumer counters, but the momentum proved short-lived as broad-based selling later overshadowed mid-week support from telco stocks. For the week under review, the benchmark index rose 7.90 points to 1,533.76 on Friday from 1,525.86 a week earlier. The FBM Emas Index increased 26.99 points to 11,506.82 and the FBMT 100 Index gained 28.03 points to 11,269.72, but the FBM Emas Shariah Index slid 8.89 points to 11,528.98, the FBM 70 Index dipped 90.15 points to 16,607.57 and the FBM ACE Index dropped 32.77 points to 4,639.02. By sector, the Financial Services Index jumped 99.4 points to 17,454.23, the Plantation Index reduced 7.10 points to 7,434.79 and the Energy Index went up 0.21 of a point to 739.85. Weekly turnover narrowed to 11.92 billion units worth RM11.43 billion from 15.53 billion units worth RM11.77 billion in the previous week. Main Market volume slid to 6.63 billion units valued at RM9.70 billion compared with 6.73 billion units valued at RM10.07 billion previously. Warrant turnover grew to 7.10 billion units worth RM1.15 billion from 6.83 billion units worth RM966.72 million in the preceding week. ACE Market volume shrank to 1.68 billion units valued at RM577.05 million versus 1.97 billion units valued at RM729.96 million previously. — Bernama


BusinessToday
38 minutes ago
- BusinessToday
Local Bond Performance Hinges On Final Tariff Deal
Malaysian Government Securities (MGS) and Government Investment Issues (GII) saw their yields decline this week, a movement partly influenced by softer US Treasury yields and domestic policy measures. However, upcoming tariff risks ahead of the August 1 deadline are poised to introduce volatility. Across the curve, MGS and GII yields fell between 0.8 to 3.3 basis points (bps). The benchmark 10-year MGS dipped by 1.7 bps to 3.418%, while the 10-year GII decreased by 2.1 bps to 3.466%. Notably, the 3-year MGS experienced a more significant drop of 3.3 bps, as markets continue to price in the possibility of another rate cut by Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM). BNM had already reduced its Overnight Policy Rate (OPR) by 25 basis points to 2.75% earlier this month, marking its first cut since July 2020. Domestically, the government's recent 'Appreciation Package' – which includes a one-off RM100 cash handout for all adult citizens and a planned reduction in RON95 fuel prices – is seen as supportive of consumption and easing living costs. This, coupled with a solid 4.5% advance Gross Domestic Product (GDP) reading for the second quarter of 2025, has contributed to the downward bias in yields. Steady demand, as observed in recent bond auctions, also added to the momentum. Looking ahead, Kenanga Research expects yields to remain range-bound next week, albeit with a mild upward bias. The primary concern weighing on foreign demand for Malaysian bonds is the uncertainty surrounding US-Malaysia trade talks. Since the announcement of a potential 25.0% tariff on Malaysian exports on July 8, foreign investors have been net sellers of over RM5.0 billion in government bonds as of July 18. A failure to secure tariff concessions by the August 1 deadline could further dampen investor sentiment and potentially pressure the ringgit. The upcoming Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) release on August 1 will also be closely watched, with any upside surprise potentially offering modest support to the market. For the ringgit, immediate support against the US dollar is noted at 4.22, with resistance at 4.23. Analysts anticipate elevated volatility in the 4.20–4.25/USD range in the coming week, given the confluence of economic data releases and the politically sensitive trade negotiations. Related

Barnama
an hour ago
- Barnama
FBM KLCI Futures To Trade Within Narrow Range Next Week On Cautious Sentiment
WORLD By Harizah Hanim Mohamed KUALA LUMPUR, July 26 (Bernama) -- The FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) futures contract on Bursa Malaysia Derivatives is expected to trade within a narrow range next week, tracking the underlying cash market. Rakuten Trade Sdn Bhd equity research vice-president Thong Pak Leng said the resistance level is located at 1,540 and the support at 1,520, with the FBM KLCI is likely to remain range-bound between 1,510 and 1,540 in the coming week. 'Over the past few weeks, the benchmark index has repeatedly tested and hovered around the 1,530 without making a clear breakout. The ongoing sideways movement since June, coupled with thinning volume, signals cautious investor sentiment,' he told Bernama. On a weekly basis, the spot month July 2025 and August 2025 contracts gained four points each to 1,531.5 and 1,528.5, respectively. September 2025 added 5.5 points to 1,509.5, while December 2025 inched up 3.5 points to 1,511.5. Turnover for the week improved to 28,103 lots from 25,123 lots in the previous week, while open interest jumped to 48,755 contracts from 38,963 contracts previously. The FBM KLCI ended the week better, advancing 7.90 points to 1,533.76 from 1,525.86 in the previous week. -- BERNAMA