Thousands of express bus passengers are stranded in Kelantan after drivers of two bus companies went on strike today.

More than 500 drivers of Transnasional and Syarikat Kenderaan Melayu Kelantan (SKMK) refused to start their buses this morning, leaving some 4,500 people waiting to return to their hometowns for Hari Raya in a lurch.

The bus drivers are striking following the managements' failure to honour the promise to pay early salary and give advance for Hari Raya preparations.

A last-minute deal to solve the matter also failed.

According to a Bernama report, the strike was being staged at all Transnasional and SKMK bus stations for express and district bus services.

Bernama quoted a representative of the drivers as saying that they wanted the September salary, to be paid on Oct 17, be brought forward to yesterday and they had asked for a RM300 advance for Hari Raya preparations.

"The management also promised to loan RM300 to all employees for Hari Raya because they are not paid bonus but until today the money has not been paid," the state news agency quoted the unnamed representative as saying.

Irate passengers

Following negotiations with the managements until 11am, they agreed to pay RM250 advance but that was not agreed to by the drivers.

"We don't draw big salary, many of us depend on the advance for our Hari Raya preparations including to buy our children's Hari Raya clothing," he added.

It is learnt that many of the new drivers are paid RM300 basic salary and RM20 annual increment. Their monthly income mainly depends on trip allowance and overtime.

Bernama said checks at the bus station in Kota Bahru, SKMK Kubang Kerian and SKMK Langgar showed thousands of passengers stranded.

Passengers were disappointed and angry with the turn of events. They regretted the bus companies' failure to solve their internal problems to the extent of inconveniencing passengers.

Passenger Norliza Rosli, 24, said her excitement to return to Grik to celebrate Hari Raya with her loved ones had been dampened due to the long wait.

Hari Raya falls on Oct 13.