Rethink plan to use hydrogen fuel cell buses — Chong

KUCHING: Deputy Minister of Domestic Trade and Consumer Af fairs Chong Chieng Jen is urging the Sarawak government to reconsider its decision to use hydrogen fuel cell buses as a form of public transport in the city.

Such proje c t , he said, i s impr ac t ic a l a s hyd rogen technology for vehicles has yet to mature, and would need a lot of adjustment.

“If we buy these buses now, we are going to waste a lot of money when the hydrogen technology changes,” he told a press conference after leading the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs’ Ops Catut 5.0 together with Customs Department to conduct checks on the general prices of goods at Everrise BDC here yesterday.

The Stampin MP pointed out that the price of hydrogen fuel cell buses is double that of conventional buses.

He also said the Sarawak government would have to spend on a facility to convert water to hydrogen, which would cost millions of ringgit.

“I would like to caution the government not to embark on such a flamboyant and impractical project.

“It may come up to nothing and it will definitely require the Sarawak government to spend a lot more money to provide the same number of hydrogen buses as conventional buses,” he said.

Chong suggested that the Sarawak government purchase more conventional buses to improve its public transport system.

“A hydrogen fuel cell bus would cost around RM1 million each whereas a conventional bus costs around RM400,000 each.

“Therefore, I urge the Sarawak government rethink the project and go for conventional buses by providing more of them and provide more public transport facilities to the people rather than to showcase a few units of hydrogen buses.”

Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg on Monday announced that hydrogen fuel cell buses are expected to debut on the roads of Kuching City by March next year, starting with three buses used as pilot vehicles.

“We will try three buses first as partofourpilotprojectandresearch (to improve and provide better public transportation system),” he told reporters after witnessing the signing of Memorandum of Understanding ( MoU) between Sarawak Economic Development Corporation (SEDC) and Foshan Feishi Automobile Manufacture Co Ltd China for the supply and delivery of these hydrogen fuel cell buses.

He also gave assurance that the cost of each bus would not be that expensive and that negotiations on this were being carried out at the moment.