Andrew Wong<\/strong> Jasmine Kurniawan sent her boyfriend, Alister Ong, a social media post from a wedding space designer looking for couples thinking about getting hitched, then she left it at that.<\/p>\n The post led Ong, 33, to work with the designer and Tower Transit Singapore<\/a> (TTS) to secretly plan a surprise wedding proposal, on June 27, in front of a TTS bus that had been converted into a wedding vehicle.<\/p>\n The happy couple<\/a> are the first to use TTS\u2019 new wedding bus, which was launched that day at its 10th anniversary celebration at Bulim Bus Depot in Jurong West.<\/p>\n TTS said it will sponsor the couple\u2019s wedding ceremony when the time comes.<\/p>\n Ong told the media he had only two weeks to plan for the proposal.<\/p>\n \u201cBuses really mean a lot to us because I would send her home on a bus, then I\u2019d catch my last bus home,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Ong, who was born with cerebral palsy, added that because of his condition and wheelchair, using public buses is usually the most efficient method of travelling for him.<\/p>\n A TTS spokesman said it received positive feedback on social media from the public about the idea of a wedding bus.<\/p>\n Equipped with a TV and karaoke system, the bus also has a collapsible table for couples taking their vows on board in the presence of a licensed solemniser.<\/p>\n TTS said couples will soon be able to charter the bus for a two-hour scenic ride around Singapore. More details will be released later in 2026.<\/p>\n Paying tribute to TTS staff at the carnival, Acting Transport Minister Jeffrey Siow said the Government recognises there are few jobs as demanding as that of a bus driver, or bus captain, as the industry calls them.<\/p>\n He had previously said in a June 3 social media post that the median age of local bus drivers was 56, and for every new recruit, two were retiring.<\/p>\n On June 27, Siow said the Government was working with operators like TTS to improve the well-being of those in the industry, including implementing flexible work arrangements, shorter routes and higher salaries.<\/p>\n \u201cThe adjustments enable us to keep the job as a good job that pays fairly, so that our captains can work with pride and dignity,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n This comes on the back of a June 3 announcement by the Land Transport Authority (LTA) that the Government will fund a $450 monthly salary increase<\/a> for new Singaporean and permanent resident bus drivers. The new drivers will also receive an additional $2,000 in sign-on bonuses.<\/p>\n In all, the average monthly pay of a new bus driver will increase from about $3,600 to more than $4,000, after including overtime pay and allowances. Meanwhile, existing bus drivers will get a one-time pay increase of between $150 and $250.<\/p>\n The latest moves are aimed at attracting more locals to the profession, as more bus drivers will be needed as Singapore improves its bus network under the $900 million Bus Connectivity Enhancement Programme.<\/p>\n
The Straits Times<\/strong>
June 27, 2026<\/strong><\/p>\n
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