KUCHING: The Sarawak government continues to strengthen efforts to enhance student welfare and ease urban traffic congestion with the introduction of a free school bus service at SJK Chung Hua No. 6, which transport students directly from their homes to the school.
Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg said the initiative is a collaborative project with the local elected representative and serves as a pilot project to assess whether its implementation can reduce the number of private vehicles, particularly during peak school hours.
“Today (Jan 12), together with the SJK Chung Hua No. 6 community, we are embarking on a new approach by launching a free school bus service for students, transporting them directly from their homes to the school.
“Based on available statistics and the use of a tracking system, the number of vehicles using Jalan Stapok, where two schools, SK Sungai Maong and SJK Chung Hua No. 6 are located, has shown a reduction,” he said when met by reporters after officiating the Smart Classroom and Free School Bus Programme held at the school here.
He added that the implementation of the free bus service has also increased parents’ confidence in their children’s safety as each bus is equipped with a tracking system.
According to him, the facility enables two-way communication between students and parents while on board the bus, thereby ensuring that safety is continuously monitored.
“Through the transportation introduced as a smart bus service, we see potential to expand its implementation to other areas and to make it an alternative mode of transport for students travelling to school.
“Besides reducing the need for parents to send their children to school, the initiative can also help save on daily travel costs, especially for families who rely on private vehicles.
“Therefore, with the success of this project, we will extend it to other schools in collaboration with the community and Parent-Teacher Associations (PTAs). The cost of payments and bus services is borne by the government.”
He further explained that the bus service focuses on urban areas and is in line with efforts to develop low-carbon cities, while also supporting the use of more efficient public transportation.
Meanwhile, on the Yayasan Sarawak free school bus programme, he said the initiative will be continued and enhanced, particularly in the Petra Jaya area, to ensure better time management and more organised routes and destinations.
“So we will enhance the existing Yayasan Sarawak free school bus service in the Petra Jaya area. This is an experiment that I see as very effective,” Abang Johari added.
