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CM’s free school bus service initiative implemented by Sarawak foundation

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First day of the free bus service at Santubong zone.

The Chief Minister of Sarawak, who is also the chairman of the Board of Trustees of Sarawak Foundation, Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg continued to inject ideas and introduce new policies to expand the role of Sarawak Foundation in providing educational assistances in the state.

Among his many initiatives being implemented by the Sarawak Foundation is the Free School Bus Programme which is now a reality. This initiative was launched by Abang Johari at the Sarawak Foundation building, opposite Padang Merdeka in Kuching on August 3, 2020.

According to Abang Johari, this initiative is to encourage parents to utilise the school bus service to send their children to school, thus reducing traffic congestion, particularly around the school area.

The free school bus service was supposed to start its operations on July 14, 2020 around Kuching but was postponed following the decision by the Sarawak Disaster Information to postpone school sessions for secondary schools in three districts, namely Kuching, Padawan and Samarahan until August 3, 2020.

The state government wants to help the community, especially those with low incomes. First of all, with this free bus, students can board the bus according to the time or school sessions and bus schedule.

Secondly, there is no need to pay for any travel fares. Children are expected to take advantage of this by studying hard. It is clear that with this initiative, they will not face any problems of going to school.

So far, 46 buses have been operating involving 32 schools around the Kuching and Padawan districts which will benefit around 2,800-3,000 school students every day in the area.

The average cost borne by the government for each student to commute to school every day is RM5. For a family with one child in school, around RM80 per month can be saved and RM160 per month for a family with two school-going children.

This project has been expanded in stages to other major cities such as Sibu, Bintulu and Miri. However, currently it is put on hold as the state is still in the National Recovery Plan due to Covid-19.

The banner for the free school bus service being installed at various areas.

Meanwhile, Sarawak Foundation in a statement advised students and parents to download the free school bus app on Google PlayStore and Apple AppStore. The service is open to all students in the following schools below:

●      SJK (C) Sungai Apong

●      SJK Chung Hua Kuching

●      SK Gita

●      SK Matang Jaya

●      SK Merpati Jepang

●      SK Petra Jaya

●      SK Rakyat Jalan Haji Bolhasan

●      SK Semariang

●      SK Semerah Padi

●      SK St Andrew (M)

●      SK Tabuan

●      SK Tabuan Hilir

●      SMK Bako

●      SMK Bandar Semariang

●      SMK Batu Kawa

●      SMK Jalan Arang

●      SMK Kuching High

●      SMK Matang Hilir

●      SMK Matang Jaya

●      SMK Pending

●      SMK Petra Jaya

●      SMK Santubong

●      SMK Semerah Padi

●      SMK Seri Setia

●      SMK St Joseph

●      SMK St Mary

●      SMK St Teresa

●      SMK St Thomas

●      SMK Tun Abang Haji Openg

●      SMK Tunku Abdul Rahman

Members of the Kuching-Samarahan Bus Operators Association.

Sibu School Bus Association chairman Ling Leong Chuong, meanwhile, in a statement welcomed the Free School Bus Programme initiative introduced by Abang Johari as well as for the programme to be introduced in Sibu town.

He said apart from providing free school bus transportation to students, the programme also expected to save the school bus drivers’ careers.

Since its establishment in 1971, the Sarawak Foundation has played an important role in the development of human capital in the state in accordance with the state government’s aspiration to achieve a developed and high-income nation by 2030.

Over the years, the foundation has gained a prominent presence in economic sectors such as aviation, petroleum, finance, hospitality, ports, agriculture, property management, project development, skills training institutions, telecommunication and afforestation operations.

Students in Bako zone being dropped off by the bus at their school.

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