Sarawak bus operators dismayed by Putrajaya’s delay in implementing stage bus service transformation

KUCHING (Sept 26): The Sarawak Bus Transport Companies Association (SBTCA), the sole association representing all the stage and express bus operators of Sarawak, is urging the government to implement the Stage Bus Service Transformation (SBST) Programme for Kuching without further delay.

SBST Kuching, in particular, has been in planning together with 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, SBTCA honorary secretary William Chan said in a press statement yesterday.

Among the modern technologies Chan refers to are GPS tracking, CCTV and on board WiFi.

“If not for the delay from the federal government, more than a hundred of these state-of-the-art buses are already on the road since 2018 after the consortium formed by all Kuching bus operators signed the SBST Agreement with the government,” Chan lamented.

He acknowledged the fact that Sarawak Transport Minister Dato Sri Lee Kim Shin has assisted SBTCA in chasing the federal government all these while and also personally met federal Transport Minister Anthony Loke several times on the matter.

“Unfortunately, MOTM 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 game this month,” said Chan in expressing his disappointment.

“Furthermore, MOTM wanted to open the tender to all companies nationwide which was objected to strongly by our Sarawak Transport Minister as Sarawakians are well capable of running the services ourselves with at least half a century of experience to draw on,” he added.

Chan said SBTCA fully supported Lee’s stand and together managed to limit the tender to Sarawak companies only.

On the same note, the 14 units of high-tech Smart Buses at par with Kuching SBST buses promised by Lee early this year have all arrived in Miri last Sunday and are ready for launching this Oct 9.

For the record, SBTCA held a meeting with Loke on Jan 8, 2024.

During that Jan 8 meeting with Loke, Sarawak was promised paid training for 300 bus drivers by the federal government from the minister himself, said Chan.

“However, until now, no update was given to SBTCA since delivering of the candidates name list to MOTM this March.

“Sarawak, same as the rest of Malaysia, is desperately in need of more new bus drivers, especially with the upcoming projects.

“Hence, SBTCA would therefore call upon the federal government and Ministry of Transport Malaysia to deliver its promises of 300 new bus drivers to Sarawak as soon as possible,” he stressed.