B2 licence initiative puts road safety first

KUCHING: A total of 346 Batu Kawa residents have obtained their Class B2 motorcycle licences under an assistance programme aimed at promoting safer and more responsible road use.

Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian said the licences are important not only for the recipients’ safety but also for that of other road users.

“This is not just a licence but an important tool for life.

“It is not a licence to endanger others, and we want every recipient to be responsible on the road,” he said when officiating at the programme at SMK Min Lit Batu Kawa here on Sunday (Sept 13).

Dr Sim said Sarawak recorded 21,747 road accidents in 2024, resulting in 418 deaths and 189 serious injuries.

He added that this translated to an average of 60 accidents and more than one road death each day, compared with 44 accidents and fewer than one death daily in 2020.

“A road accident does not only affect the victim but also places a burden on their family, friends and the government due to the high cost of medical treatment,” he said.

The Public Health, Housing and Local Government Minister said motorcycle licences had also become increasingly important as food and parcel delivery services offered new income opportunities.

“The licence should be treated as both an economic tool and a responsibility towards the wider community,” he said.