Kong says investigations found that five out of the 12 buses currently operating under the programme are more than 30 years old.
KUCHING (May 1): The Commercial Vehicles Licensing Board (CVLB) Sarawak has raised safety concerns over the use of ageing buses and unlicensed drivers under the state’s free school bus initiative involving SJK Chung Hua No. 6 and SK Sungai Maong Hilir.
Its chairman Michael Kong said investigations found that five out of the 12 buses currently operating under the programme are more than 30 years old.
“Under our existing policy, only vehicles up to 30 years of age are allowed to operate as school buses, and even then, these must have been licensed before reaching 20 years old.
“This policy is in place to ensure the safety of our school children and other road users. We cannot compromise on safety by allowing aged, old, and potentially dilapidated vehicles to ferry students on a daily basis,” he said in a statement.
He said operators have been informed to replace the affected buses with newer and safer vehicles.
The matter was raised during a meeting yesterday between CVLB Sarawak and Batu Lintang assemblyman See Chee How to discuss issues arising from the implementation of the free school bus initiative.
In addition to vehicle age, Kong said compliance with the School Bus (Colours and Marks) Rules 1987 was also discussed.
“Under the School Bus (Colours and Marks) Rules 1987, all school buses are required to be painted in amber with the words ‘BAS SEKOLAH’ clearly marked in black,” he said, adding that operators will be given sufficient time to comply with the requirement.
Another concern highlighted was the lack of valid Public Service Vehicle (PSV) licence among some operators and drivers.
“Currently, not all of them possess a PSV licence and this is worrying because it may be a cause for insurance companies to refuse payouts in case of accidents.
“We have agreed to extend our full cooperation to ensure that this initiative can be implemented safely, responsibly, and in full compliance with the law,” he said.
While acknowledging the good intentions behind providing free school bus services, Kong stressed that safety requirements such as vehicle age limits and properly licensed drivers are non-negotiable standards that must be adhered to at all times.
“CVLB Sarawak remains committed to working constructively to regularise and improve this initiative.
“However, there are fundamental requirements that we cannot and will not compromise on particularly when it concerns the safety of our children,” he said.
