Taylor’s Drops Contract With Bus Company After “Red Shirts” Rally. What About PLKN Buses?
Despite claims from Taylor's and the National Service Department that they did not authorise their buses to be used as a mode of transportation for the "red shirts" rally, many questions remain unanswered on how the buses ended up at the rally.
Cover image via Malaysiakini
MARA cancels sponsorship for Taylor's University students
Minister for Rural and Regional Development Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob
Image via The Rakyat Post
However, Taylor's University claimed that they have not received any official notification on this sudden termination of scholarship for its students starting next term
18 SEPT: Buses have allegedly been misused to ferry protesters for the "red shirts" rally
The "red shirts" rally has been soaring with attention from Malaysians due to its flaky, mysterious nature.
One of the many confusions that sparked over the "red shirts" rally, was the authorisation of buses used to ferry the "reds" to different gathering points during the rally on Malaysia Day.
The issue first surfaced when an image of "red shirts" rally protesters walking out of a bus with Taylor's University logo stamped on it. The university's students and the people started reacting angrily and posed a question to Taylor's, asking if they promote the racially slanted rally.
Taylor's University bus sighted by Malaysiakini, was transporting protesters during the 'red shirts' rally
Image via Malaysiakini
Taylor's University was quick to respond right after the matter was brought up, refuting the claims of connection with the rally and clarified that the buses belonged to a third party bus operator, Wawasan Sutera Travel & Tours Sdn. Bhd.
Wawasan Sutera Travel & Tours apologised and claimed that the incident was merely a case of human error
In a Facebook post, dated 16 September, at 3:41 p.m. Wawasan Sutera released an official statement on their Facebook page, stressing that there is absolutely no link between Taylor's University and the 'red shirts' rally.
Wawasan Sutera's Facebook post following the Taylor's bus issue.
Image via Wawasan Sutera Travel & Tours/Facebook
However, Wawasan Sutera's public apology was met with Malaysians lamenting about Taylor's University's name being dragged through the mud due to this incident
Image via Wawasan Sutera Travel & Tours/Facebook
Following raging comments from users, the bus operator agency responded with somewhat similar replies, claiming that they overlooked the fact that the buses used during the rally had Taylor's University logo on them
Image via Wawasan Sutera Travel & Tours/Facebook
Image via Wawasan Sutera Travel & Tours/Facebook
Image via Wawasan Sutera Travel & Tours/Facebook
In one of the replies by Wawasan Sutera, they stated that they have **contracts from two parties.** However, when contacted by SAYS for comments and details regarding the contracts, Wawasan Sutera Sdn. Bhd. has so far, not provided any reply on the matter.
Taylor's University has canceled its contract with Wawasan Sutera following the misuse of a bus with their logo for the "red shirts" rally
Taylor's University bus wasn't the only one that got into this messy ordeal. Around 50 National Service Training Program (PLKN) buses were sighted during the rally too.
It was brought to our attention that one of the PLKN buses used for the "red shirts" rally had a label on its screen that read, "Bukit Gantang"
Image via Free Malaysia Today
However, the National Service Department (JLKN) has denied authorising the PLKN buses to ferry protesters to Himpunan Rakyat Bersatu meeting points
Image via Khidmat Negara (NS)
The PLKN buses belong to GPB Corporation Sdn. Bhd. that was acquired by a government-linked company (GLC), Gunung Capital Berhad in 2010
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Gunung Capital's current Executive Chairman Dato' Syed Abu Hussin bin Hafiz Syed Abdul Fasal was previously the deputy head of the Bukit Gantang UMNO division (2001-2005)
The company that owns PLKN's buses, GPB Corporation Sdn. Bhd is an organisation that focuses on providing a range of bus transportation services
The ownership of PLKN buses was brought to light after the Malaysian government decided to temporarily suspend the National Service (NS) program as a cost-cutting measure
Following that, PKR's National Oversight and Whistleblowers (NOW), questioned the government on why GPB Corporation Sdn. Bhd. was given this year's service contract for NS despite the fact that the program has been stopped
Akmal Nasir the Director of PKR's National Oversight and Whistleblowers (NOW)
Image via Malay Mail Online
