Steady at the wheel

DESPITE running one of Singapore's largest private transport operators, Mr Voo Soon Sang hasn't forgotten his early years as a bus driver when he would sleep on the bus to save time and fuel.

"Some workers worked in Jurong and lived in Punggol. After I took them home from a late shift, I would sleep on the bus because the next day, the pick-up was very early, before 6 am," he recalled in a recent media interview.

Despite the hard life, he enjoyed the benefit of being able to drive his family and friends around on his bus.

The 65-year-old managing director of Woodlands Transport was a 20-year-old provision shop assistant when he bought his first bus from a friend. In 1974, he co-founded the company, starting with three small buses.

The company grew quickly as Singapore's rapid economic growth in the 1970s and 1980s led to a spike in demand for transport services. Today, it has a fleet of 350 buses and 950 other heavy vehicles, with annual revenue in excess of S$100 million.

"I am deeply honoured to be able to play a part in nation building as a private transport operator over the last 40 years. Since the rapid industrialisation of the 1970s, we have been ferrying workers, enabling them to fuel the Singapore economy," he told The Business Times in an interview.

"We were also responsible for transporting building materials that played an integral role in Singapore's urbanisation and development."

Mr Voo is being honoured with a SG50 Outstanding Chinese Business Pioneers Award for "his leadership and innovativeness in adapting to the fast-changing private bus transport industry", as well as his support for education, the environment and the Chinese community, through donations and active involvement.

Indeed, the entrepreneur is having to once again navigate a changing industry landscape. To meet growing demand for transport, the Government is funding a billion-dollar plan that will add 1,000 new buses to the public fleet by 2017.

It is also introducing a new model for the public bus industry that will see operators bid competitively to run a package of routes. Woodlands Transport will be bidding for the maiden package of 26 services.

After 40 years playing a key role in Singapore's transport sector, Mr Voo shows no sign of slowing down.

He said: "As we celebrate Singapore's 50th birthday, I am looking forward to witnessing new milestones in the transport industry. I believe the ongoing public bus reforms are set to further enhance the commuting experience in Singapore, making it an even better place to live in."