Although I provide driving lessons to students who possess L licenses, nevertheless, from time to time, I do agree to conduct “refresher” courses for students who possess “P” or provisional licenses too.

Some young drivers, who have just obtained their “P” license, discover that they are not competent enough to drive well. Parents, who are concerned with their children’s ability to drive safely, are therefore placed in a predicament upon discovering that their siblings are incapable to drive well. This is inspite of being given some 10 – 16 lessons or more by their previous instructor or instructors.

This was what led a Mdm. Yu, from Port Klang, who chanced upon reading my blog not too long ago. The above mother, a part time consultant with a logistics firm, contacted me about her son’s inability to drive safely and well.

It should be made known here that with 41 over years experience of giving driving instructions to students, I do not fancy giving “refresher” courses to students, except may be to my own students only.

Students who intent to do a refresher course take up a further 6 – 10 lessons under me to better themselves in the art of driving. I charge RM25 per hour for such classes. However, the charges for refresher courses can even go up to RM50 an hour.

A few years ago, I taught a housewife, from Kg. Delek, Telok Pulai, Klang, how to drive in her husband’s 2850 c.c. new Pajero. For readers’ information, teaching someone who is not competent in driving, especially in a big and powerful vehicle, such as a Pajero, is no mean task.

In fact, while tutoring the housewife mentioned above, my “boss”, Mat Saat, from Sekolah Memandu Mat Saat, saw me imparting refresher lessons in the Pajero, and hollered, “What on the earth are you doing?”, he inquired. “How in the world can you envisage doing such a thing?”, he said.

In reality, teaching refresher courses in a Pajero is indeed dangerous! For those who are unaware, the Pajero’s handbrake is located on the driver’s side, below the dashboard, next to the driver’s right knee. As such, an instructor, infact has no opportunity at all to use the handbrake to assist her when emergency situations arise.

It is hoped that other instructors who are reading this article would not contemplate doing what I have done. It is infact, a “stupid” act!

In a half an hour interview over the phone recently with Star’s feature writer, Rashvinjeet S. Bedi who had wanted to write an article entitled “Parents’ misplaced love puts young lives at risk”, amongst other things, I was quoted to have reiterated that “many driving schools nowadays are more interested in making money, instead of imparting the correct knowledge of driving. They are just interested in churning out students, who in reality, can’t drive properly. New drivers are not getting enough practice hours on the road.”

Readers may wish to know, what does a “refresher” course entail? First of all, permit me to tell readers that a “refresher” course can be done in 2 ways:-

1. Using the driving instructor’s driving school or institute’s vehicle to brush up or improve the student’s apparent weakness and defences.

2. Using a student’s own automatic car to better his or her ability to drive well.

The second alternative appears to be a better choice as it will provide a student the chance to get used with his or her vehicle eventually. Whatever it is, the rates for refresher courses remain the same at RM25 an hour. The maxim followed by many driving schools appeared to be, “it’s not whose car or vehicle were using. It’s the time, which we impart upon teaching you how to drive well that counts.”

What do I out on a mission of conducting refresher classes do upon meeting with a student for the first time?

Ideally, check the driving license to see if it’s valid, meaning, it’s not expired. Find out a few things about the student. Things like which driving school taught him, how many hours of driving did he or she undergo and has the student ever been given the opportunity to drive in towns or otherwise.

These are important things a good instructor should know. All these will go a long way to assist the instructor in preparing the student for a refresher lesson.

My observation upon “P” holders show that, amongst some of the major weaknesses of “P” drivers are:-

1. Incapable of stepping on the accelerator correctly, thereby causing the vehicle to stall.

2. Inability to take a corner correctly, thereby causes the possibility of a near collision.

3. Not ensuring that a vehicle is in “free” gear or otherwise before switching on the engine.

4. Unable to evaluate which correct gear a vehicle has to be in.

5. Many students tend to turn their heads to the rear when asked to ensure if there are vehicles approaching from the rear. They should infact use the side mirror instead.

6. Many “P” drivers are found to change gears incorrectly. They tend to enter gear 4 instead of the required gear 2, causing the vehicle to vibrate violently.

7. A tendency to leave up the clutch too fast thereby causing the vehicle to jerk abruptly. This pertains especially to gear 2 and 3 specifically.

8. Finally, it has been observed too that many “P” drivers fail to ensure that the coast is clear before they drive off.

The above are some of the weakness which many “P” drivers suffer from. During the “refresher” courses, a good instructor should emphasize upon the 7 or 8 weaknesses I have mentioned above. It is only through a determined effort, which will eventually improve a “P” driver’s ability to drive well.

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My teachers used to advise me, if you think you are smart, don’t forget, there’s always someone who is smarter than you. I have been a driving instructor now for 39 years. But I have a friend, Mr. Chin Yon Hook, who has been an instructor since 1967. That totals 42 years!

Today, I would like to highlight one of Klang town foremost and well known driving school – the Sentosa Driving School.

The word “sentosa”, means tranquility. In short, it means a business that would run smoothly, without any upheavals.

This popular driving school was started by my close buddy, Mr. Chin Yon Hook and Encik Abdul Rahman. Its office was located in Taman Berkeley, Klang.

The founding of Sentosa Driving School or Sekolah Memandu Sentosa, was made after Malaya achieved its independence. To be exact, it was set up in 1967.

Before setting up this school, Mr. Chin worked with the Klang & Coast Driving School, under the control of Mr. Khoo Boon Kim. Later, another relative, a Mr. Kim Tian, was to join Mr. Khoo in his enterprise.

According to Mr. Chin, the proprietor of Sekolah Memandu Sentosa, is of “Khek” origin. Mr. Chin, was born in Klang.

Prior to setting this driving school, which was to grow rapidly to become one of Klang town’s most well known driving school, Mr. Chin worked with Lam Soon Soap Factory in Petaling Jaya.

Mr. Chin, told me in an interview, in the early days, few people learned driving then. Petrol was only RM1.30 per gallon. The R.I.M.V. (Registrar and Inspector of Motor Vehicles ) then had its office located in front of the Odeon theater in Jalan Batu, Kuala Lumpur.

Delving into his memories, Mr. Chin said the Director of the R.I.M.V. then was Mr. Kok Chee Sun. When pressed further, Mr. Chin said learning driving at that time was only RM130. Presently, the price of learning how to drive a car is roughly RM850 – RM1000. Furthermore, most driving schools then were using Mini Minor cars.

Coming back to relate the history of Sekolah Memandu Sentosa, it was given to operate under permit B/PSM/0110. Mr. Chin himself used a Mini Minor vehicle registration number CB 5237.

Sekolah Memandu Sentosa was to grow so rapidly that within a short period of time, it was to become one of Klang’s most popular and well known driving school.

Today, Mr. Chin is better known as C.B., a name which soon stuck to him as the registration number of his car. That’s how popular and well known he was to become!

According to Mr. Chin, driving instructors in those days did not possess the S.M.2 or certificate to teach. All one needed was 3 years driving experience.

When asked, what was the most memorable incident he could remember regarding the driving school industry, Mr. Chin without hesitation said, “the burning down of the J.P.J. office in Petaling Jaya in 1974”.

And when asked again, why the Sentosa Driving School grew so fast to become one of Klang’s elite driving schools, Mr. Chin said because:

i) Sentosa Driving School capability to do things which other driving schools could not do.

ii) Its aggressive attitude which led it to achieve many things which others couldn’t.

Mr. Chin, as the business proprietor, was to lead it to become one of Klang’s top driving schools. Only the people in Klang can verify this authenticity.

Why was his business able to rise above the other driving institutions in Klang?

Mr. Chin believes his good rapport with a few top officers of the Selangor J.P.J. was responsible.

For your information, Mr. Chin was elected as the leading driving school’s spokesman. He eventually became the President of the Klang & Coast Driving Association.

Sekolah Memandu Sentosa, was given the opportunity to set up its own pool car, challenging Klang’s Pool Car establishment.

Over the years, thousands of students have passed through the hands of this renowned driving school instructor.

When asked, which car represents the best model to be used for driving by students, without hesitation, his reply was the Datsun 1200. Costing only approximately RM6700 then, its low fuel consumption, its durability and its lasting steering makes it a top vehicle for driving tuition purposes.

Sentosa Driving School was amongst one of the earliest driving establishment in Klang town was to be given the responsibility to conduct the K.P.P. (Kursus Pendidikan Pemandu) 5 Hours course. For this, Sekolah Memandu Sentosa was lucky to obtain the service of top J.P.J.’s officials in the likes of Encik Hamzah and Encik Sanusi, who has since passed away.

Sentosa Driving School is still operating rather actively in the field of providing driving tuition to Klang residents, even today. Presently, Mr. Chin Yon Hook operates directly from his house, which acts as an office. During school holiday seasons, Mr. Chin would have more than 50 potential students calling him for his service!

What was Mr. Chin’s opinion regarding the impending proposal to the introduction of “auto” car into the driving school industry?

He was surprisingly against this movement.

Why? Because according to him, those who learnt in auto cars will in future not be able to drive G.D.L. vehicles which are mostly “manual” geared.

Having been involved in the driving arena for over 42 years, what was his most disappointing moments with his students?

To this he reiterated, some students have approached him requesting for “special test”, as they said they wanted to migrate overseas top pursue further studies. To his dismay, he has met many such students in his visit to England for example. These students are now working in restaurants there instead.

After 42 long years in the driving industry, does Mr. Chin plan to retire from this industry eventually?

Mr. Chin says he plans to continue as long as health permits. Helping people to secure a driving license is his most ardent wish.

Has he ever helped deserving students to secure licenses?

To this his reply was Yes!

Poor parents who approached Mr. Chin have been given special treatment. Well, that’s the type of person Mr. Chin is!

What does Mr. Chin’s regard to the introduction of driving institutes in Malaysia today?

To this he laments, it has diminished driving school’s chances to do business. This has also led to the demise of many driving schools in Malaysia today.

What, amongst the services does Mr. Chin’s Sentosa Driving School provide to the public today? The services are:

i) Undang-undang tests services.

ii) Renewal of road tax and licenses.

iii) Insurance services.

iv) Services regarding loss of license etc.

Mr. Chin, one should be informed, is an avid traveler. He has gone to many countries across the world such as South Africa, England, Canada, Australia, Hong Kong, China, Indonesia etc.

To end this article, it must be made known, Mr. Chin Yon Hook, an experienced driving instructor of over 42 years is extremely lucky to be blessed with 3 children. He has 2 girls and a boy.

His eldest daughter is currently working as an air hostess with Singapore Airlines. The second is in England, working as a beautician. The youngest boy is currently pursuing his further studies in England.

Talking with this dedicated driving school instructor, I get the feeling that the death of his wife many years ago, still affects him.

Amongst his aims, is to meet people of all walks of life who are smitten with illness and help them wherever possible.

Mr. Chin has surprisingly remained single, even though, his wife passed away more than 15 years ago.

Asked if he still possess the “dream” of setting up his own institute one day. Mr. Chin Yon Hook reiterated, “I certainly do!”.

To that, myself, who happens to be a close friend of his, wishes him all the very best. May his dream become a reality!

And where does he intend to set his latest institute?

In Taman Sentosa, Klang of course!

By the way, Taman Sentosa bears his driving school name, do not forget that. Funny isn’t it?

If you have any question in regards to Mr. Chin Yon Hook and his driving school in Klang, feel free to put your question in the comment section below.

Best regards

‘Cikgu Yap