No more delays: Federal govt urged to implement Stage Bus Service Transformation programme in Kuching

Loke (seated fifth left) in a group photo with the SBTCA delegation during their meeting on Jan 8, 2024.

By DayakDaily Team

KUCHING, Sept 25: The Sarawak Bus Transport Companies Association (SBTCA), the sole association representing all the stage and express bus operators of Sarawak, has urged the Federal government to implement the Stage Bus Service Transformation (SBST) programme in Kuching without further delay.

The Association’s honorary secretary William Chan said SBST Kuching has been planning with the Ministry of Transport Malaysia (MOTM) and Ministry of Transport Sarawak (MOTS) for years to bring the eco-friendly air-conditioned buses equipped with handicap access and modern technologies such as GPS tracking, CCTV, on board WiFi and more, to Kuching.

“If not for the delay from the Federal government, more than a hundred of these state-of-the-art buses would already be on the road since 2018 after the consortium formed by all Kuching bus operators signed the SBST Agreement with the government,” he said in a statement today.

He also said the Sarawak Transport Minister Dato Sri Lee Kim Shin has assisted SBTCA in following up with the Federal government on this issue, and has personally met with the Federal Transport Minister Anthony Loke several times to discuss the matter.

“Unfortunately, MOTM (has) decided not to honour the signed SBST Agreement and re-tender the project in January 2024, causing further delay.

“Otherwise, Sarawak will not needlessly spend money to transport Rapid KL buses to Kuching for the Para Sukma games this month,” he added.

Furthermore, Chan pointed out that MOTM initially wanted to open the tender to all companies nationwide which was objected strongly by Lee as the latter believes that Sarawakians are capable of running the services themselves, with at least half a century of experience to draw on.

SBTCA, he said, fully supported Lee’s stance and together managed to limit the tender to Sarawak companies only.

Meanwhile, Chan revealed that during the meeting with Loke on Jan 8, 2024, the minister had promised Sarawak paid training for 300 bus drivers by the Federal government.

“However, until now, no update was given to SBTCA since the candidate’s name-list was delivered to MOTM this March.

“SBTCA would therefore call upon the Federal government and MOTM to deliver on its promise as soon as possible,” he emphasised. — DayakDaily