KUCHING, Jan 23: Sarawak is being used as ‘guinea pig’ and testing ground for the new and unpopular hydrogen bus technology, claims Padungan assemblyman Wong King Wei.
Questioning the state government’s direction especially when it is not feasible in the economic sense, Wong also asked that chief minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg reveal the actual total cost of implementing such project.
“This technology is new and it is not popular around the world. There are other technologies which Sarawak can adopt such as electric or Euro5. Even developed countries chose electric buses instead of hydrogen as it is much more cost effective.
“I urge the state government to be accountable by revealing the cost of the project, the economic feasibility study and cost-effectiveness analysis of the usage of these hydrogen buses, in comparison to other renewable energy powered buses including the common electric buses,” Wong said at a press conference today.
Although the government has yet to reveal the cost involved in acquiring the buses and building of the facility to produce hydrogen, Wong said the rough estimate for a hydrogen bus is about RM1 million each.
He also lamented that at the moment Sarawak is not even a leading state in terms of public transport system, instead, claiming that the current public bus service system is “zero standard”.
“A lot of countries around the world with superb public bus services use electric which can easily be charged using the grid without investing in the setting up of hydrogen infrastructure and distribution network.”
The hydrogen bus service in Kuching officially commenced yesterday, offering passengers free rides on two routes with stops near various attractions in the city. —DayakDaily
