WHEN Wan Mohd Faiz Wan Hamat took over as the chief executive officer of express bus operator Tiara Persona Sdn Bhd back in 2016, it was an exciting growth period with numerous plans to take the company to the next level.
The Kota Baru-based company's flagship subsidiary, Ekspres Perdana, was one of the largest express bus operators on the East Coast. Its fleet of colourful double-decker coaches provided an essential and affordable transport service, connecting the people of Kelantan with the rest of Peninsular Malaysia.
"Our philosophy has always been to provide the safest and most comfortable journey possible. We only invested in new European buses that were replaced every five years, equipped them with free Wi-Fi and other amenities, employed the best-trained drivers and electronically limited the speed to the regulated 90km/h. We also made sure that our fleet was well-maintained, using only the best engine oil. We were confident of our future," he explained.
Then the pandemic hit and the lockdown almost wiped away all the years of hard work. Thankfully, the business environment has since improved but has yet to reach the pre-pandemic level of 60 to 70 bus trips a day.
"Bus operators like us are grappling with rising costs but the fare has remained unchanged for the past 15 years. Therefore, cost-efficiency is critical to our continued survival and growth. We are thankful that our decision to switch to the fully synthetic Shell Rimula R6 LM engine oil for our entire fleet has paid off. It has helped keep our buses, which clocks up about 1,000 km a day, moving efficiently. The increased productivity and cost-efficiency from fewer oil changes and longer engine life have helped sustain our business," said Wan Mohd Faiz.
In a recent product trial involving three Ekspres Perdana coaches conducted by Shell distributor Samchem Lubricants Sdn Bhd and supported by Shell Malaysia Trading Sdn Bhd, it was found that Shell Rimula R6 LM was able to extend the oil drain interval and could help Tiara Persona to lower maintenance costs by saving up to RM1.4 million a year with its fleet of 90 buses*.
"Shell Rimula R6 LM is formulated with Shell's proprietary ultra-clean base oil made from natural gas and advanced additives to deliver better protection against engine wear, corrosion and deposits while maintaining its viscosity for far longer even in extreme operating environments, such as those experienced by Ekspres Perdana coaches," said Shell Lubricants marketing general manager for Malaysia and Singapore Nyon Kam Yew.
Samchem Lubricants senior manager of sales and marketing Shirley Wong applauded Tiara Persona for its foresight and willingness to invest in the top-of-the-range, fully-synthetic Shell Rimula R6 LM and said: "It is always a pleasure to see customers accept our recommendations and enjoy the resulting tangible benefits. We are glad to support Tiara Persona all the way."
Despite the challenges, Tiara Persona is once again looking ahead to better days. 40 units of new Euro V-powered bus chassis from Europe are coming as part of its fleet renewal plan. The low-emission engines, coupled with the use of Shell Rimula R6 LM, would certainly help the company lower its carbon footprint.
Tiara Persona was a two-time winner of the Best Express Bus Operator Award in 2016 and 2017 and was also recognised for their excellent customer service by the public transport authority.
*Outcome may vary for different customers.