Our Company Profile

Our company, PHLS Sdn Bhd had existed since 1978 with a shared Muara Line commuting services between Bandar Sen Begawan and Muara. The bus services co-existed with other 5 operators and had been running independently. From 1991, this Company was delegated and empowered to one of his sons, Mr. Poh Eng Guan as the Managing Proprietor to undertake this business - the mark of major transformation and sheer determination on such an ambitious business.

From its humble beginning, today PHLS is more than just a public bus commuter (Eastern Lines), but coupled with multi-faceted operations namely, chartered services (for Tourists and Wedding functions), Express Services between BSB and the Serasa Ferry Terminal, fleet of vehicles for hire (KSPS), daily school bus, daily transportation for contract workers, and Singapore Armed Forces Transportation services

Realizing the need to serve better commuting transportation for general public and traveling tourists in Brunei Darussalam, His Majesty's The Government of Brunei Darussalam through Ministry of Communication has embarked positively on a huge national programme and initially granted franchise operations in Brunei-Muara District, namely Central Line, Northern, Eastern Western and Southern Lines; as well as franchising chartered bus services throughout the Nation.

The award for Eastern Lines 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 had been successfully granted by His Majesty's The Government of Brunei Darussalam to our Company with an official launch on 08 August 1996 by His Honourable, Dato Paduka Haji Malai Au bin Othman, the ex-Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Communications. As an extended service, this Company was subsequently granted with another Express Commuting Service (Bandar Seri Begawan-Muara) on 04 January 1997 serving the passengers for the route between Serasa Ferry Terminal and Bandar Seri Begawan

The Eastern Lines currently provide various class of transportation in the Brunei-Muara District. The routes are 33, 35, 36, 37, 38, and 39 and each route operates with an approved times from 06.45 a.m. to 08.00 p.m. daily of around 15 minutes frequency. While the Express Service is numbered as E30 and usually operates from 08.00 a.m. to 05.00 p.m. daily.

By 01 January 2004, PHLS was being given another 7 year extension to run a similar operation and an additional line known as Central Line (Route ~4) as an extra 7 year franchisee to PHLS.

As Brunei Darussalam was hosting the first BIMP-EAGA at Muara Port, our Company had been awarded chartered services with an initial of 5 of 24 seater buses and entrusted to ferry the delegates from hotels to exhibition areas and vice-versa.

Due to the expansion of the Company, it has been incorporated as POH HUAT LAI and SONS Pte Ltd and registered as AGO/RC/4802 dated 12 May 1999 under the Companies Act, Chapter 39. The current appointed external auditor for the firm is Price Waterhouse having an office duly-based in Bandar Seri Begawan.

Our Corporate Vision

Our vision is for PHLS to provide quality-class services and products in land transportation. Other principal activities are providing- management and corporate service support to the various strategic business units.

PHLS has set-up a reasonable and sizeable main office since 08 August 1996 next to the workshop, Poh Motor Service Engineering and Works Company, situated at 131, Kg Sabun, Jalan Muara, Muara BT2128. However, the new main office has been moved to 115, Kg Sabun since 01 August 2004. The bus depots have a total area of roughly 2 acres on three locations with close proximity to the main office.

Company Structure and Work Organization

Poh Eng Guan, Managing Director of this Company runs the daily operation. Born in Kampong Sabun (Muara), one of the rural kampong settings in 1960, he had acquired his early childhood education in Chung Hwa Middle school at the Bandar Seri Begawan. With an enthusiastic hobby in automobile business, he had left for Jefri Bolkiah Automobile Engineering School in Kuala Belait and graduated by 1982 with good knowledge of mechanical engineering expertise.

By 1983, he has taken over the management from his father and tasked this small company known as Poh Motor Service and Engineering Works Co. - previously owned by his father. The Company has grown to various aspects of activities till to date with a working capital of over B$400,000.00plus spare parts and warehousing stock value amounting to B$150,000.00.

By 1991, he has taken over his father's self-managed one bus-transportation company namely, Poh Huat Lai and Sons for which to date has been heavily involved in general public transport with a fixed asset of around B$4,000,000.00.

The Company was then converted to being private-limited under the Companies Act on the 12 May 1999 with its three appointed Directors as stipulated in Form X: The Companies Act (Particulars of Directors or Managers and of Any Changes Therein- Pursuant to Section 143) with effect from 06 May 2002.

The Company workforce is totaled around 90 personnel. We have about 51 drivers (City Bus Drivers 21, Chartered Drivers 30), 18 Bus Conducters, 2 Controllers, 3 Bus Cleaners, Security Attendant, 10 Managerial/ office personnel, and 5 Maintenance support personnel.

The local and overseas drivers are well-mannered and trained with over a significant number of years in driving experience in heavy machinery and commercial buses. They have been disciplined to accord with the traffic rules and road regulations.