https://www.asiaone.com/lifestyle/r...us-captain-reflects-career-and-industry-1980s
lifestyle
Koh Kim Tiw, 74, has been working as a bus captain for over four decades.
PHOTO: AsiaOne/Amierul Rashid
PUBLISHED ON February 15, 2025 12:11 PMByAmierul Rashid
Even at 74 years old, Koh Kim Tiw is still going strong as a full-time bus captain.
And maybe what is even more impressive is that he has been in the same profession for more than 46 years, having first taken on the role in 1979 at the age of 28.
Reflecting on his career and the changes he has seen in his job industry, it seems Kim Tiw still very much loves his job even after almost five decades.
Upon dropping out of school at nine, he began working at a shipyard.
By his 20s, Kim Tiw had experience working in other professions, from selling noodles to working at coffee shops.
However, he felt the need to secure a more "stable" job in order to provide for his family.
So Kim Tiw, then 28, took a trip to the bus depot at Toa Payoh to inquire if they were hiring.
Little did he expect that this one moment would mark the beginning of a career that would span four decades.
His new job was a stable source of income, though Kim Tiw admitted that his initial salary as a bus captain as "very low".
But that did not deter him.
He said: "I was very hardworking. Every rest day I would work because I needed to provide for my family."
Including overtime, the monthly salary would range between $600 and $700, he added.
Kim Tiw at the Go-Ahead bus depot with colleagues. PHOTO: Go-Ahead Singapore
Throughout his time as a bus captain, Kim Tiw has driven the same route, bus service 2.
The bus service links Changi Village Terminal and Kampong Bahru Terminal, passing through residential areas including Simpang Bedok and Eunos.
While his journey during work hours remained constant, there have been changes aplenty in his industry over the years.
When asked to list some differences he has experienced, Kim Tiw's immediate reply was the inclusion of air conditioning in public buses.
He recalled just how "hot" and "uncomfortable" it was to sit long hours in the driver's seat back then.
Another change he noted was the dwindling number of staff onboard public buses.
Nowadays, public buses being run by just one staff, the bus captain, is the norm.
"In the past, there were ticket inspectors, someone to manage the payments. But now, there's no more of that and it's all computerised," Kim Tiw said, pointing to the introduction of ez-link cards as an example.
Midway through the interview, he whipped out his mobile phone to run us through BC Click, an app he uses daily at work.
This mobile app simplifies tasks, such as vehicle checks and paperwork submissions, for bus captains.
Before these technological advancements, Kim Tiw recalled how a simple task, such as checking the duty roster, requires him to head down to the bus depot.
"Now, it's different. With the phone, you don't need to come down physically," he added.
While some may wonder if technology might be a hindrance to seniors like him, he noted that there were trainers on-hand to help him "learn very quickly".
lifestyle
Rolling with the times: 74-year-old bus captain reflects on career and industry since the 1980s
Koh Kim Tiw, 74, has been working as a bus captain for over four decades.
PHOTO: AsiaOne/Amierul Rashid
PUBLISHED ON February 15, 2025 12:11 PMByAmierul Rashid
Even at 74 years old, Koh Kim Tiw is still going strong as a full-time bus captain.
And maybe what is even more impressive is that he has been in the same profession for more than 46 years, having first taken on the role in 1979 at the age of 28.
Reflecting on his career and the changes he has seen in his job industry, it seems Kim Tiw still very much loves his job even after almost five decades.
A lifelong career
Kim Tiw was candid about his education background and how it may have hindered potential career opportunities, saying: "Uncle didn't study [much]. I only studied until Primary 3 and that's it."Upon dropping out of school at nine, he began working at a shipyard.
By his 20s, Kim Tiw had experience working in other professions, from selling noodles to working at coffee shops.
However, he felt the need to secure a more "stable" job in order to provide for his family.
So Kim Tiw, then 28, took a trip to the bus depot at Toa Payoh to inquire if they were hiring.
Little did he expect that this one moment would mark the beginning of a career that would span four decades.
His new job was a stable source of income, though Kim Tiw admitted that his initial salary as a bus captain as "very low".
But that did not deter him.
He said: "I was very hardworking. Every rest day I would work because I needed to provide for my family."
Including overtime, the monthly salary would range between $600 and $700, he added.
Then and now
Throughout his time as a bus captain, Kim Tiw has driven the same route, bus service 2.
The bus service links Changi Village Terminal and Kampong Bahru Terminal, passing through residential areas including Simpang Bedok and Eunos.
While his journey during work hours remained constant, there have been changes aplenty in his industry over the years.
When asked to list some differences he has experienced, Kim Tiw's immediate reply was the inclusion of air conditioning in public buses.
He recalled just how "hot" and "uncomfortable" it was to sit long hours in the driver's seat back then.
Another change he noted was the dwindling number of staff onboard public buses.
Nowadays, public buses being run by just one staff, the bus captain, is the norm.
"In the past, there were ticket inspectors, someone to manage the payments. But now, there's no more of that and it's all computerised," Kim Tiw said, pointing to the introduction of ez-link cards as an example.
Midway through the interview, he whipped out his mobile phone to run us through BC Click, an app he uses daily at work.
This mobile app simplifies tasks, such as vehicle checks and paperwork submissions, for bus captains.
Before these technological advancements, Kim Tiw recalled how a simple task, such as checking the duty roster, requires him to head down to the bus depot.
"Now, it's different. With the phone, you don't need to come down physically," he added.
While some may wonder if technology might be a hindrance to seniors like him, he noted that there were trainers on-hand to help him "learn very quickly".
