CVLB Sabah instructed to improve minibus system
KUALA LUMPUR: The Ministry of Transport has instructed the Commercial Vehicle Licensing Board (CVLB) Sabah to form a committee with state agencies to improve the minibus system (bas berhenti-henti) in Kota Kinabalu.
Its minister Anthony Loke said the committee would identify and propose actions to be taken to enhance the public transportation system, particularly minibus, in the state capital.
Loke said he found that most minibuses in Kota Kinabalu were old in his last visit to the temporary bus terminal in the city.
He said the existing system required passengers to wait till the bus was full before it could depart and most minibuses lacked air-conditioning.
“These factors caused people in Kota Kinabalu to drive their own vehicles.
“The ministry has instructed CVLB Sabah to form a committee with state agencies to improve on the minibus system in Kota Kinabalu as a start,” he said in response to Senator Datuk Yong Wui Chung’s debate speech on the budget during the Dewan Negara sitting here.
Meanwhile, Loke said he had also visited the KK Sentral Bus Terminal which had yet to operate despite having completed two years ago.
“The Mayor of Kota Kinabalu has informed that the KK Sentral Bus Terminal is one of the four proposed terminals to be built and it can only go into operation when all four terminals have been completed.”
As the land for the proposed bus terminals are owned by Kota Kinabalu City Hall (DBKK), Loke said he had suggested to the city hall to collaborate with the private sector to build the terminals as done in Peninsular Malaysia.
“This approach can save costs and ensure the implementation of the development.”
Additionally, Loke said the government would study proposals on public transportation development including Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) in Sabah and Sarawak before making a decision.
“For the time being, the government is focusing on improving the services of existing minibuses.”
On another note, Loke said the Transport Ministry acknowledged the call to build new railway tracks in Sabah but this matter was under the purview of the Sabah State Government.
“As such, any plans related to rail transport development to connect the main cities in Sabah is the responsibility and jurisdiction of the State Government, specifically the Ministry of Infrastructure Development of Sabah.”
At the moment, he said the Federal Government had not received proposals from the State Government to develop new railway network to expand the existing route that linked Tanjung Aru to Beaufort and Tenom.
He added that any railway development proposals should take into consideration its costs and projected revenue to ensure positive return on investment for the government.