MIRI: A total of 11 stage bus companies in Sarawak will receive the Temporary Assistance Fund for Stage Bus Operators (DBSPB) for the year 2021-2022 through an allocation of RM5.6 million from the federal government.
The agreement to receive the funds was signed between Sarawak’s Commercial Vehicle Licensing Board (CVLB) director, Razami Mohamad Jamali, and the managers of the bus companies in a ceremony at the Miri Resident’s Office today. The event was witnessed by State Transport Minister Datuk Lee Kim Shin.
According to a joint statement issued by CVLB and the Sarawak Ministry of Transport in conjunction with the event, the companies eligible to receive the funds are Petra Jaya Transport (Sarawak) Sdn Bhd, Biaramas Express Sdn Bhd, Bau Transport Company Sdn Bhd, City Public Link Bus Services Sdn Bhd, Lanang Road Bus Company Berhad, Rejang Transport Sdn Bhd, Sungei Merah Bus Berhad, Teku Road Bus Co Sdn Bhd, Miri Transport Co Sdn Bhd, Miri City Bus Sdn Bhd, and Miri Belait Transport Company Sdn Bhd.
“DBSPB not only aims to improve the quality of the stage bus service but also aims to increase the perception and confidence of bus passengers on the quality of public transport services in Sarawak,” the statement said.
DBSPB, formerly known as the Interim Stage Bus Support Fund was introduced by the Land Public Transport Commission in 2012 with improvements made through the signing of an agreement between the federal government through the Ministry of Transport Malaysia and a stage bus company.
“This programme involves 50 routes throughout Sarawak of which 18 routes are in Kuching, 18 in Sibu and 14 in Miri, and complements the RM1 Bus Fare Programme conducted by the Sarawak government under the public transport subsidy in Kuching, Miri and Sibu,” said the statement.
It also aims to address the daily operating losses of stage bus companies to ensure continuity of services, restart discontinued routes, and drive service quality improvements by increasing travel frequency and improving bus conditions.
The implementation of the RM1 flat rate fare programme in Sarawak began in May 2020, and until December 2020, it had reached a cumulative number of 1.22 million bus users and a total subsidy of RM5.2 million paid by the state government to 12 bus companies.
According to the statement, following the overwhelming response from bus commuters, the subsidy programme has been extended this year and the number of bus users in January was 186,512, and involved a total subsidy of RM751,530.
The two subsidies are expected to reduce the financial burden of the people who depend on public bus transport services and also help to reduce the operating costs of stage bus operators in Sarawak.
