By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Dec 19: The Sarawak Commercial Vehicle Licensing Board (LPKP) has imposed a ban on the transportation of goods inside express buses, citing safety concerns.
LPKP Sarawak chairman Michael Kong Feng Nian said the board has received repeated public complaints regarding goods being placed within passenger areas of coach buses.
“This practice poses serious safety risks, particularly during emergencies where evacuation may be required.
“For this reason, our new policy will dictate that express bus operators are only permitted to store passengers’ belongings and goods in designated cargo compartments, and not within the passenger cabin,” he said in a statement.
Kong stressed that safety and passenger welfare must always take precedence, despite the operational challenges faced by bus operators.
The policy was discussed during a coordination meeting held yesterday (Dec 18) between LPKP Sarawak, the Sarawak Ministry of Transport (MoT), and express bus operators across the State.
He said the meeting also focused on proper route planning, standardisation, and strict compliance with approved routes and designated stopping points.
Operators were reminded to adhere to their approved schedules to ensure a reliable and orderly bus service.
“Compliance with these schedules will help ensure a more reliable, orderly, and dependable public transport service for the people, while also improving passenger confidence in express bus services across Sarawak.
Kong added that LPKP Sarawak will continue working closely with MoT Sarawak and industry players to balance operational sustainability with public safety. — DayakDaily
