HARD AT WORK: Tireless van driver K. Sundram was one of five drivers who ferried journalists to and from the meetings. -- ST PHOTO: WONG MEI LING

They are the Asean Ministerial Meeting shuttle-bus drivers, who have been spending 16 hours a day ferrying journalists and camera crew almost continuously between the media centre in the Regional Language Centre and the Shangri-La Hotel, a distance of less than 150m.

The five drivers are among the unsung heroes who worked feverishly behind the scenes to ensure that the high-profile event and its associated meetings went like clockwork.

'The meetings would not have gone so smoothly without the dedication and hard work of every single member of the backroom service crew, including the bus drivers, hotel staff and many others,' a Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman told The Straits Times.

And with each driver making at least 200 trips a day, the high-level delegates in Singapore for the meeting have certainly not been the only ones putting in hard work.

'When I go back, I'm even too tired to sleep,' driver K. Sundram said.

But the bus crew did feel a sense of pride and nostalgia as the meetings came to a close yesterday and things started to wind down.

A member of the bus crew, who wanted to remain anonymous, said: 'It's mixed feelings. It's a relief that everything is over. But the other thing is that you get the opportunity to do this kind of service... In one way or another, we did help make this Asean meeting a success. Not many people get a chance to be involved.'

When asked if he would do it again, he gave a definite yes, but added: 'Hopefully I'll get a chance to drive the ministers around next time.'

WONG MEI LING