KUCHING, May 21: With the state capital now categorised as a Covid-19 yellow zone, the Ministry of Transport Sarawak has decided that it is timely to launch the RM1 flat rate stage bus fare initiative here.
Its minister Datuk Lee Kim Shin revealed stage bus services will resume within the city with strict standard operating procedures (SOPs) compliance to prevent the spread of Covid-19.
“We had a meeting with members of the Kuching Division Disaster Management Committee together with all stakeholders including the bus companies this morning. Two briefings were presented by the ministry during these meetings, namely the implementation of the RM1 flat rate stage bus fare and the SOPs for stage bus companies to comply with before resuming their services,” he disclosed in a statement.
Following the meeting, offer letters were presented to the following bus companies that provide bus services prior to the occurrences of Covid-19, namely Bau Transport Company Sdn Bhd, City Public Link Bus Sdn Bhd, Petra Jaya Transport (Sarawak) Sdn Bhd and Biaramas Express Sdn Bhd.
The eligibility criteria to participate in the RM1 flat rate stage bus fare initiative includes that the bus company must be registered with the Sarawak Commercial Vehicle Licensing Board (CVLB).
After the meeting, the participants then proceeded to the Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba) Tabuan Jaya fire station to witness the firefighters demonstrating to bus drivers how to sanitise their buses.
“I would like to convey my appreciation and thanks to Bomba for helping us to conduct training for these bus companies for sanitising their buses.
“Before the bus companies can resume operation, they must comply with the following SOP, namely, notify the Kuching Division Disaster Management Committee, sanitise their buses, make sure their drivers undergo health screening tests, prepare seating arrangement for social distancing, take body temperature of all passengers upon boarding the bus, ensure all passengers wear face masks during the journey, and to take note that a police permit is still required for inter-district travel,” Lee added.
Once the necessary actions have been taken in compliance with the SOPs, bus companies must also notify the public on the latest bus routes and schedules within Kuching city through news and social media channels before resuming their operation. — DayakDaily
