SHAH ALAM – The woman at the centre of the viral bus lap incident has claimed to police that the act was part of a “driving lesson”
The 21-year-old woman has admitted she took part in the act out of excitement and a personal interest in learning how to drive a bus, according to police.
Jasin district police chief Superintendent Lee Robert said initial investigations found that the woman, who works as a ticketing clerk for a separate bus company, revealed this when she gave her statement at the Jasin District Police Headquarters (IPD) on Tuesday.
“She said that she was excited and interested in driving a bus, which led to the incident,” he said.
The woman, from Kedah, is believed to be in a relationship with the 36-year-old driver from Kuala Lumpur, whom she has known for about five months.
Both individuals were detained after giving their statements, which lasted about two hours. Police are expected to apply for a remand order at the Jasin Magistrate’s Court.
Investigations revealed the incident occurred for only a few minutes before the bus entered the main highway route.
The driver, who has around 10 years of experience operating express buses, reportedly allowed the woman to sit on his lap while he was driving, an act that has raised serious safety concerns among the public.
The pair arrived at the police headquarters at around 4.30pm in a Proton Persona, driven by a third individual believed to be a family member. Both were seen wearing face masks during the process.
The case stems from an eight-second viral video that began circulating on social media, showing the driver with the woman seated on his lap while navigating a stretch near the Bemban Rest and Service Area (R&R) along the southbound North-South Expressway.
The incident is believed to have taken place at around 7.30pm on April 12, during a journey from Terminal Bersepadu Selatan (TBS) in Kuala Lumpur to Larkin in Johor Bahru.
In the footage, the driver appeared to be steering the bus while the woman remained seated on his lap, prompting widespread concern over passenger safety and professional conduct.
Authorities have since launched an investigation under Section 42(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987, which covers reckless and dangerous driving.
Police said the act, regardless of duration, posed a serious risk not only to the individuals involved but also to passengers on board and other road users.
The case has reignited discussions on safety standards among express bus operators, with many questioning how such behaviour could occur during an active journey.
While the couple described the act as brief and driven by enthusiasm, authorities stressed that such conduct is unacceptable, particularly in a high-responsibility role such as operating public transport.
Investigations are ongoing.