PRC bus driver fined $5,000 only for killing Singaporean in traffic accident


A former PRC bus driver was let off with only a $5,000 fine and banned from driving for three years for causing the death of a Singaporean scooterist Mr Oh Yam Seng.

33 year old Zhou Yunpeng, a Singapore PR admitted to causing the death of Mr Oh by failing to give way to him when he made a right turn from Ang Mo Kio Ave 5 into Ave 8 last year, the Straits Times report.

It is not revealed how Mr Zhou managed to obtain his Singapore PR. He told the judge that he had been driving the bus for only one and a half months before the accident.

Though bus drivers are jobs which can be taken up by Singaporeans, there is an increasing number of PRC bus drivers in Singapore, some of whom are unfamiliar with the bus routes and are unable to speak even simple English.

A Sichuan newspaper reported two months ago of a Singapore bus company putting up job ads in Chengdu to recruit PRC bus drivers to work in Singapore.

The applicants must have a Chinese class “A” driver and three years of driving experience of public transport in China. On top of the attractive wages, they are also given free lodging, transport allowances and medical insurance coverage.

During the recent May Day Rally, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong called on Singaporeans to accept a higher “inflow” of foreigners as the economy “improves”.

Singaporeans should prepare themselves for more PRC bus drivers like Mr Zhou Yunpeng. As for the non-Chinese, it is time to pick up some simple Mandarin in order to communicate with these “foreign talents” from mainland China.


Comments: I feel that the bus driver should not be let off this lightly with a sentence of only $5000 fine. This is unfair to the family of the deceased as well to the deceased himself. Singapore is a country where laws should be abided and punishments must be carried out accordingy. The sentence for taking a life in singapore is being sentenced to death but this man was let off lightly and that should not have been the case. Moreover this man failed to give way to the scooterist which caused death to Mr Oh Yam Seng. People should not be selfish as to not give way in traffic. Being considerate can save a life so people should be more considerate and learn to give way to others so that so much commotion would not be caused.

Done by: Gabriel Han

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