Kuching: Concerns have emerged over the safety of Sarawak’s Free School Bus service following reports that several aging buses classified as “high-risk” have been operating without valid permits.
DAPSY Sarawak Deputy Chief Soo Tien Ren described the situation as “severe negligence at the executive level,” noting that the negligence places students at significant risk, potentially leaving them without insurance coverage.
“The core issue is not a lack of funds, but rather how the government allocates resources and identifies its priorities.
“I am deeply disappointed by the Sarawak government’s inaction and skewed priorities in its transport policy,” he said in a statement.
It is understood that five of the 12 buses in the programme have been in service for more than 30 years, with one vehicle reaching 37 years of service. These vehicles are dilapidated, costly to maintain, and pose escalating safety hazards – a harsh reality long faced by both industry operators and parents.
Soo said, while the Sarawak Government continues to invest billions of ringgit in major infrastructure projects such as the Kuching Urban Transportation System (KUTS) and the Autonomous Rapid Transit (ART) system, concerns remain over unresolved basic safety issues affecting school transportation.
“If the Sarawak government is willing to subsidise free bus services, why didn’t they ensure that the subsidised vehicles were compliant and safe?
“If the intention is to assist long-term operators, why hasn’t the government helped them upgrade to newer vehicles?” he asked.
He added that, when it comes to the children’s daily safety, the government would rather subsidise buses with major safety risks than propose a systematic subsidy or aid program to help operators replace their aging fleets.
“This depicts a government that is loud when spending on ‘mega-projects’ but remains silent on basic safety,” he said.
Soo pointed out that the Sarawak Government is urged to immediately review current transport resource allocation and acknowledge the severity of the aging school bus issue, launch a dedicated purchase subsidy or financing aid scheme for school bus operators to upgrade their vehicles and establish a coordination mechanism with the Commercial Vehicle Licensing Board (LPKP) to synchronise the legalisation process with vehicle renewal.
“We do not want a future transport system that only exists on paper while the actual vehicles our children use every day are ignored.
“A truly responsible government does not just talk about the future; it ensures the present is handled correctly,” he said.
