SIBU: A total of 1,114 participants from the B40 group in Nangka constituency successfully obtained a Class B2 motorcycle licence through the MyLesen Programme today.
Deputy Minister of Education, Innovation and Talent Development, Datuk Dr Annuar Rapaee, said that all the participants obtained their licences after completing the screening process and undergoing tests and training set by the Road Transport Department (JPJ).
Dr Annuar, who is also Nangka Assemblyman, said that the programme was introduced in early 2024 to help members of the B40 group or low-income groups obtain motorcycle driving licences at minimal cost.
“MyLesen Assistance Programme is an important and strategic step that not only opens up opportunities for youth to obtain a legal and safe driving licence, but also helps produce disciplined and responsible drivers.
“I hope that all recipients of this programme will support the government’s noble efforts by becoming examples or role models for other road users, and that we can collectively foster a more prudent and tolerant road culture,” he said.
He said this in the text of his speech read by the Premier’s Political Secretary, Sayed Azmee Wan Junaidi, at the closing of the Nangka Constituency MyLesen Programme held at the University of Technology Sarawak (UTS) Hall here today.
“With a licence in hand, you are not only a legal driver, but also someone who protects yourself and others on the road. You are also a knowledgeable road user who understands how precious life is,” he said.
Dr Annuar added that the government’s efforts to provide good infrastructure and cultivate law-abiding drivers would have little impact if some road users continued to disregard safety and neglect ethical driving practices.
He noted that careless and irresponsible behaviour, along with failure to comply with traffic rules, are among the main factors contributing to the rising number of road accidents each year.
The government, he added, also incurs high costs to repair or replace damaged and destroyed public assets resulting from such accidents.
“An estimated RM19.7 billion in losses is recorded annually due to road accidents, according to studies conducted by MIROS in 2024,” he said.
In this regard, he called upon the Police, JPJ and the Commercial Vehicle Licensing Board (LPKP) to intensify enforcement efforts in line with the government’s aspiration to reduce road fatalities by 50 per cent by 2030.
