KUCHING: The reopening of driving school in the state has been approved with compliance to the new specific standard operating procedure (SOP) under Phase Three of the National Recovery Plan (NRP).
This was disclosed by Minister of Transport Datuk Lee Kim Shin who stated that approval was given by Sarawak Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) in its meeting on August 17.
“The proposal on permit to reopen the driving school in the state was brought forth by the ministry and Road Transport Department (JPJ). It has been approved, but with strict compliance by the management and operators,” he said in a statement today (August 19).
He said the new specific SOP is also available on the ministry’ website and it includes all driving schools are responsible to submit the following information to their respective nearby JPJ offices for verification and arrangement before they are allowed to reopen for business and provide services.
Besides that, premise operators, workers, driving instructors must have completed their two doses of Covid-19 vaccination while all learners or candidates must have at least one dose of Covid-19 vaccination before they can be accepted by the driving school.
“However, after August 31 it will be mandatory for all learners to have completed two doses of Covid-19 vaccination before they can be accepted by the driving schools.
“As proof of vaccination, the management and premises operators, workers, driving instructors and tutors as well as learners for driving licenses must show their Covid-19 Vaccination Digital Certificate or Covid-19 Vaccination Card,” he said.
He added that the JPJ is responsible to ensure that strict compliance to the new SOP is adhered by all driving schools and the department will carry out regular site visit and spot check.
“The reopening of driving schools in the southern zone covering Kuching, Serian and Samarahan divisions is postponed until further notice due to the high positive Covid-19 cases. However, for other zones and divisions it will proceed once JPJ has checked the compliance to the SOP by the driving schools.
“We trust that the new specific SOP will help to ensure that driving schools can operate in an environment under Phase Three of the NRP in order to safeguard all stakeholders from the spread of Covid-19,” he said.
At the same time, Lee also thanked the state government and SDMC for allowing the reopening of 34 driving schools in the state.
“The reopening of driving schools will assist to mitigate the economic impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic on the livelihood of all stakeholders involved and their related supply chain,” he concluded.
