KUCHING, March 3: The federal government has allocated nearly RM15 million of “Dana Bantuan Sementara Pengusaha Bas” (DBSPB), with RM4.93 million annually for three years (2023-2025), to 12 eligible bus operators in Sarawak.
Minister of Transport (MOT) Sarawak Dato Sri Lee Kim Shin said the temporary assistance grant is to assist bus operators in Sarawak to improve their bus services quality, boost passenger confidence and perception in public transport as well as recovering the losses in their daily operation.
“With this grant, we hope the bus operators will continue to improve the quality of bus services that bring comfort such as with air-conditioning to passengers.
“They must be punctual and on schedule, open up the old routes, increase the frequency of bus services, ensure the maintenance of their buses and perhaps consider acquiring new buses,” he said.
Lee highlighted this after witnessing the signing of an agreement for DBSPB 2023-2025 between the Commercial Vehicle Licensing Board (CVLB) Sarawak director Masitah Annuar and Mohd Atan Abdullah representing the bus operators at the CVLB office in Sultan Iskandar Building, Jalan Simpang Tiga here today.
Under the revised National Budget 2023 tabled by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim in Parliament recently, he noted that RM150 million will be allocated for three cities of Melaka, Kota Kinabalu and Kuching to assist bus operators.
“This budget will help to boost their operations so that bus operators could improve the quality of services and to help in acquiring new buses.
“I hope bus operators will work together with the Sarawak government to improve the public transportation system in Sarawak,” he urged.
Lee also reiterated that his Ministry is committed to assist not only the bus operators but also the public through the RM1 flat rate bus service in Sarawak.
“It is one of the ways by the Sarawak government to encourage more people to use public transport like buses to travel to work. This also helps to lighten their financial burden,” he added.
MOT permanent secretary Dato Ir Alice Jawan, Road Transport Department Sarawak director Norizan Jili and LPKP director Masitah Annuar were present. — DayakDaily
