“Like mother, like daughters” is the perfect adage to sum up Hanisah Mat Saad and her two girls when it comes to their chosen careers.
The three women are among the few female bus drivers in the Klang Valley.
For Hanisah and her children, driving a bus is not merely a job – it is a calling.
The trio have all felt the pull of the career and the satisfaction that comes from serving the daily commuters by ensuring they arrive at their destinations promptly.
(From left) Hanisah along with her daughters Aziera and Amiera showing how bus captains navigate through their routes at the MRT Feeder Bus Depot in Sungai Buloh, Selangor. — Photos: SHAARI CHEMAT and KAMARUL ARIFFIN/The Star
When Hanisah, 51, decided to become a bus captain over 12 years ago, little did she know she was paving the way for her two daughters, Siti Nur Aziera Mohd Azmi, 26, and Siti Nur Amiera Mohd Azmi, 28, to follow in her footsteps.
Although the girls had different careers in mind while growing up, the fond memories spent with their mother on her bus routes left a lasting impact.
Now, all three women work under the Prasarana Malaysia Bhd group. Hanisah and Aziera drive for RapidKL while Amiera takes the wheel in a MRT feeder bus.
Hanisah has two other children, with her eldest daughter Siti Nur Idayu, 30, working as a driving instructor while her youngest child is a 10-year-old boy.
Aziera and her mother Hanisah are used to starting work at the crack of dawn.
Trailblazing mum
Long before her daughters joined her as bus drivers, Hanisah was forging a new path for her family.
Married to a mechanic who works primarily on heavy vehicles, she developed an interest in buses.
Her curiosity was piqued when she saw a woman driving a bus one day – a rare sight at the time.
According to Prasarana, they have 2,029 bus captains, 93 of them women.
“I discussed with my husband whether it was befitting for me to become a bus captain,” Hanisah recalled.
“He said that if that was what I wanted to be, then I should just go for it and chase my dream.”
So at the age of 38, with Aziera away at boarding school, Hanisah embarked on a new adventure as a bus captain for RapidKL.
It was initially quite a challenge learning to manoeuvre a long vehicle through the congested city streets but she soon found her groove.
Hanisah said being able to help passengers reach their destinations was fufilling.
“To me, the job of a bus captain is noble – we help other people by ferrying them to work and getting them home safely.
“I feel honoured that I can help others in this way.”
She is also proud to be opening doors for other women interested in driving a bus.
“It is a fulfilling job for me, especially when the passengers are polite.
“It gives me a sense of achievement when passengers say thank you before hopping off the bus.”
Passing the torch
When Hanisah stepped out of her comfort zone with her career choice, she never thought it would have such an impact on her daughters.
After school, she would often bring Aziera and Amiera along on her bus route.
Aziera’s routine duties include checking the bus handrails to ensure they are functioning as needed for passenger safety.
When the bus was parked in the station, the girls would sit in the driver’s seat and pretend to steer the bus.
Over time, the seed of becoming bus captains germinated.
For Aziera, being on the bus with her mother showed her a different career path.
“I wanted to be a police officer when I was younger, as I hadn’t been exposed to bus driving until my late teens,” she said.
Spending time with her mother on the job influenced her to explore a career in public transportation.
“When I followed mak during her bus routes, I saw that bus captains provide an important service,” she said.
“If a bus breaks down in the morning, it delays the schedule and makes passengers late too.
“For many people, taking the bus is the only affordable option. That inspired me to want to help them,” she said.
After finishing school, she decided to join her mother as a RapidKL bus captain.
Hanisah had advised her to always treat every passenger equally and with a smile.
For the past three years, Aziera has enjoyed being behind the wheel and meeting new people every day.
She said her mother taught her to be patient and remain calm when dealing with frustrated commuters.
Aziera especially remembers the hectic but festive atmosphere driving her route on National Day last year.
“People packed the buses, some even bringing strollers for their children.
“It was a tiring but rewarding day helping Malaysians celebrate the country’s independence,” she added.
The learning curve continued even after Aziera started driving routes on her own.
She recalled some of her early experiences on the job when she was assigned to an unfamiliar route and got lost.
“I told the passengers I wasn’t familiar with the route yet.
“I was pleasantly surprised when some regular commuters gave me directions and helped me find the way.
“It was heartwarming and reassuring to see how strangers were willing to give support to me.”
Speaking on challenging situations, Aziera recounted an incident where Hanisah encountered a disruptive passenger who was causing disturbance to both her and others on the bus.
Luckily, Hanisah managed to contact nearby security personnel for assistance.
“As a bus captain, preparing for the unexpected is crucial.
“Whether it is managing bus routes or dealing with passengers, this responsibility is heightened, particularly for women bus captains.
“We must remain steadfast when carrying out our duties,” Aziera emphasised.
Aziera enjoys being behind the wheel and meeting new passengers every day.
Following her calling
Amiera always had the thought of a career as a bus captain, at the back of her mind.
“From a young age, I was fascinated watching bus captains, especially when mak drove us around,” she recalled.
“I thought to myself that after finishing school, I wanted to drive a bus like her.”
Though she trained as a baker after graduating, Amiera never forgot her childhood dream.
The indoor work of a baker didn’t fulfil her longing for something more exciting.
So after a few years, she decided to join her mother and sister as a bus captain.
Through perseverance, Amiera qualified as a driver for the MRT feeder bus service.
Achieving her childhood wish of following in her mother’s footsteps was a proud moment.
She thrives on the daily adventure of navigating the city’s busy streets.
“I feel like I am really making a difference helping people get to their destinations,” she said.
“This job combines my love of driving with the satisfaction of providing an essential public service.
“When I saw my mother expertly handling buses, I thought if she could drive them, I could do it too,” she added.
Both Amiera and Aziera said the men in their lives, namely their father and their husbands, fully support their unconventional career choice.
Amiera said their father encouraged his daughters’ interests even if they went against gender norms.
“From a young age, we have been involved in activities that some consider ‘extreme’ like shooting, riding ATVs and zip lining,” she added.
Hanisah said her husband was very supportive when she became a bus captain.
“He advised me to be polite, positive and disciplined while driving,” she recalled.
Aziera made it clear to her husband before they got married that she intended to keep driving buses.
“I explained this is my passion and career.
“Fortunately, my husband is very supportive, despite female bus captains still being rare,” she said.
Amiera said that she was proud to see women today gain confidence and try new things that challenge them.
When asked if society now accepts women in male-dominated jobs, she said, “Malaysians support and value women who work and excel in whatever they do.”
