TEBEDU: The Pontianak-Kuching cross-border bus service started again yesterday.
Transport Minister Datuk Seri Lee Kim Shin said 10 authorised buses are permitted to ply the route between Pontianak and Kuching across the Tebedu Immigration, Customs, Quarantine, and Security (ICQS).
Officiating at the ceremony to relaunch the service at the Tebedu ICQS, he said the Kuching-Pontianak route will be run by five buses each from Indonesia Damri Express and Biaramas Express Kuching.
The express bus service will on a month-long trial run till Sept 30.
“The operation in September is just a trial and if it goes well, we will increase the number of bus services as there are other companies applying for this route.
He pointed out that the effort is a step to restore transport services that have been disrupted due to COVID-19 for the past two years.
“Regardless of vaccination status, travellers entering Malaysia are no longer needed to complete the pre-departure form in the MySejahtera application or submit to screening, on-arrival testing (OAT) or quarantine orders.
“However, bus operators are encouraged to abide by the current standard operating procedures through regular temperature checks and provide RTK antigen kits in the bus.
“All bus operators are not allowed to pick up passengers or illegal migrants along the journey; enforcement officers have been alerted to perform regular spot checks and patrols to ensure the security of the border.”
Also present during the ceremony was Indonesian Consul General Raden Sigit Witjaksono.
In another development, Lee told reporters that his ministry is currently in discussion for a direct flight from Pontianak to Kuching.
