By Nur Ashikin Louis
KUCHING, Jan 13: The current ban on the use of Beam e-scooters in areas under Kuching South City Council’s (MBKS) jurisdiction is due to legal reasons and a lack of safety measures, and not in any way a move to stonewall opportunities for youths to establish businesses.
MBKS mayor Dato Wee Hong Seng pointed out that the e-scooter operator does not provide any protective gear such as helmets for the users, which has also contributed to the ban of using e-scooters on public roads.
“We also ban (e-scooters) from our parks because they are not designed for this type of transportation. They are all for pedestrians; walking and running.
“To be fair, we don’t want people to be knocked down by all these (e-scooters) and if anything happens in our park, whose liability is that?” he said after the launching of the Neurodivergent Mural Art Bazaar at Telang Usan Hotel here today.
Wee also said that it was unfair for certain quarters to accuse MBKS for not giving the opportunity for youths to establish new businesses as a sentiment for the issue.
“The company (Beam) is registered in Kuala Lumpur and the shareholders are Singaporeans and Malaysians. No Sarawakians are involved so don’t make use of this sentiment. It’s not fair.
“If you want to go into this type of business (e-scooters), use the proper channels and find out what is the right way and right approach to do it.
“We are business friendly but if (there is) anything that threatens the safety of our people, we will not tolerate this. That’s why you have to come up with the safety measures (as) there are questions to be answered,” he added.
Wee further revealed that Kuching North City Commission (DBKU) and Saradise commercial area management have also disagreed to the use of Beam scooters.
“DBKU, they don’t agree (to Beam scooters).
“Even when we (MBKS) receive letter from Saradise, they don’t agree either because who is going to take responsibility?
“If it happens in their area, then they will be responsible because I said I didn’t allow (use of e-scooter). So I have received a letter where they said they wouldn’t allow either,” he elaborated.
With the Beam e-scooters declared illegal, Wee said individuals who are caught riding the vehicles would be penalised with a RM300 police fine.
On Jan 10, Facebook page WOW Sarawak posted that the Beam e-scooters have been banned by MBKS.
Following this, netizens have had mixed reactions to the post, with some agreeing with MBKS’ decision, and others disagreeing while some wanted the use of e-scooters to be allowed in certain spaces. — DayakDaily
