Rep challenges CM to immediately implement free bus services

MIRI: Pelawan assemblyman David Wong has challenged the Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg to immediately implement free bus services for the whole of Sarawak and not to only ‘ toy around’ with the idea.

“Please don’t play around with the idea. You are the CM, take it seriously. I hope he (Abang Johari) takes up the challenge and respond within a week, whether he is going to do it (or not),” Wong said at a press conference held at DAP Miri headquarters yesterday.

Also present were Pujut assemblyman Dr Ting Tiong Choon and DAP Miri youth chairman Peter Hee.

According to Wong, the idea of free bus services in Kuching, Sibu, Miri and Bintulu was first mooted by DAP in 2015, to reduce the cost of living especially among fresh graduates as well as to reduce pollution.

“We have been asking the state government (for free bus services) during Tok Nan’s (former chief minister, the late Pehin Sri Adenan Satem) time in 2015.

“We suggested that the service be implemented free for the first five years, so that the people can make it their choice of transportation mode in the future. In 2015, Tok Nan said he was considering it,” he said.

The proposal, he added, involved 400 buses which would not only be free but convenient for the public as it covers all possible routes.

The time interval must also be convenient so that the public can make it their choice of transportation.

“So if Abang Jo wants to do it, he should just do it.

“We have the RM31 billion reserves and the cost to implement the free bus service for the whole of Sarawak is less than RM3 billion.

“After five years, people can start paying for the bus services because it cannot be free anymore. This (idea) is workable.

“If I am the CM today, I can do it within six months.

“We can work it out, we can actually asked the present bus companies to let us buy over their operation and sub- contract it out to them. It is not a lot (to do),” he said.