KUCHING: Public transportation in Sarawak plays a crucial role for residents, providing essential links for daily commutes and access to services despite the majority owning cars for their daily transportation needs.
From city centres to the rural areas, public transportation such as buses cater to the diverse needs of the population.
In recent years, the Sarawak government has implemented various initiatives to enhance the efficiency, affordability and accessibility of public transportation.
For 21-year-old Mazlin Marsodi, a student from Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS), she said that using the public bus is just one of the modes of transportation for her to get around.
“I take the bus from Serian to Kuching for leisure, but the bus is not my primary choice; it’s among the available transportation options.
“In terms of waiting time, if traveling from Serian to Kuching, it can take quite a while because the schedule is unpredictable, but for the journey from Kuching to Serian, the waiting time is bearable,” she told New Sarawak Tribune.
Regarding the new model for the RM1 Flat Rate Bus Fare Subsidy Programme, which will cover a route of not more than 40km starting on Jan 1, Mazlin said it should be implemented which helps passengers from enduring lengthy bus journeys and is deemed reasonable given the RM1 fare.
Meanwhile, for full-time homemaker Fatimah Mat Omar from Serian, she has been relying on the public bus as her primary mode of transportation.
“My purpose for coming to Kuching is to take my child to the clinic to see the doctor. I’m used to taking the bus, and the waiting time is not long, only about half an hour,” said Fatimah.
Fatimah added that the fare is affordable compared to previous years when it could cost RM5 from Serian to Kuching. She believes that initiatives like this could alleviate the financial burden.
For 52-year-old labourer Satel Jumpa, he said that he often uses the bus for leisure purposes in the city or to return to his hometown in Serian around Jalan Gedong.
As a bus driver with 42 years of service, Yeo Khin Ai, 63, said the current passenger count is approximately around 50 to 70 individuals per day.
“During weekdays, there are lesser passengers but the number increases during the weekends,” he said.
Touching on the new model for the RM1 Flat Rate Bus Fare Subsidy Programme, Yeo said the proposal should be tested first.
“From there, we can identify whether its implementation proves effective or otherwise,” he added.
Previously, Minister for Transport, Datuk Seri Lee Kim Shin said the RM1 Flat Rate Bus Fare Subsidy Programme will now take a route of not more than 40km and it will start on Jan 1, 2024.
He said 11 bus companies operating in Kuching, Sibu, Sarikei, Miri and Bintulu had been informed on the new model that was approved by the government.
“The details of the stage bus routes and schedules were made known to the bus companies for their confirmation and this new programme will start on Jan 1, 2024,” Lee was quoted as saying.
He added that the subsidy programme will be carried out with the stage bus companies until 2025.
The programme has benefitted the rakyat, especially the B40 group, since its implementation in May 2020.
The number of ridership has shown an impressive increment of 75 per cent from 2021 to 2023 where the average ridership has greatly increased from 209,055 per month in 2021 to 364,725 per month in 2023.
