Malaysia bus operator Sri Maju Group confirmed the man was its employee and said the footage was “deeply disappointing, alarming and completely unacceptable”, adding that it amounted to a serious breach of its standard operating procedures.

“The safety and comfort of passengers have always been our highest priority. The behaviour shown in the video is a serious violation of our SOP and does not reflect the professional standards we uphold,” it said.

Separate footage circulating online appeared to show the same vehicle swerving through traffic. In one clip, the woman is seen handling the steering wheel while sitting on the driver’s lap as the bus is in motion.