A Malaysian Entrepreneur's Unexpected Journey from Phone Shops to Bus Captain

Chow Pei Guan, now 45, never envisioned a career as a bus captain during her childhood. Despite her mother's profession as a bus driver, the idea never appealed to her. She, a Malaysian, always perceived it as a job primarily for men.

In her twenties, Chow pursued different aspirations. She began as a sales assistant in a phone shop in Ipoh, Malaysia, in 2001. Through hard work, she established her own shop two years later, selling mobile phones, accessories, and offering repair services. Her business expanded to four shops.

However, in 2014, her business faced a downturn, which worsened in 2015 due to the introduction of a goods and services tax in Malaysia. The increased product costs and reduced profit margins forced her to close her shops gradually. By 2016, she had lost her last shop. At 36, she was uncertain about her next step.

It was then that her mother, who had been working as a bus captain in Singapore for 28 years, suggested she consider the same career path. Compared to running a small business, it offered a stable job with good benefits. This suggestion resonated with Chow, and a year later, she moved to Singapore to join Go-Ahead Singapore as a bus captain.

While family careers often involve artisan trades or professions like law and medicine, Chow's family has a unique connection to bus driving. Her father had retired during her childhood, making her mother, Tay Kwe Huah, the sole provider. Tay had moved to Singapore in 1997 to become a bus captain.