SBST project pact to be signed next month
KUCHING: An agreement between Putrajaya and Konsortium BBK Sdn Bhd ( KBBK) to start the Stage Bus Service Transformation (SBST) project in Kuching and Samarahan will be signed next month.
Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Datuk Amar Dr James Masing disclosed this at a press conference yesterday when prompted for an update on the project.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Dato Sri Nancy Shukri had announced early February that the agreement could be sealed this month.
Earlier, Masing officiated at the opening of a two- day seminar at Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) here.
“I was told yesterday (Wednesday) by (Assistant Minister for Land and Air Transportation and Safety) Datuk Lee Kim Shin that we are still talking about the legal points. The legality needs to be done, but we are moving.
“The bus service is very much needed in order to reduce traffic congestion. But there are a few things we need to refine further. The signing (of agreement) will be done in May,” he said.
Masing acknowledged that the SBST project was supposed to be implemented some time last year.
When contacted by The Borneo Post, Sarawak Bus Transport Companies Association (SBTCA)
I was told yesterday (Wednesday) by (Assistant Minister for Land and Air Transportation and Safety) Datuk Lee Kim Shin that we are still talking about the legal points. The legality needs to be done, but we are moving. Tan Sri Datuk Amar Dr James Masing, Deputy Chief Minister
honorary secretary William Chan said Masing’s statement took him by surprise as representatives of the consortium had been invited to attend a final meeting on the project in Kuala Lumpur next week.
“As far as we know, it is still on track. The consortium is invited for a final meeting next week in KL. We will know more after the meeting.”
Despite that, Chan urged the government to expedite the signing of the agreement because the consortium was ready to start the project.
“The consortium has been ready and waiting for a while now, so do the people of Kuching.”
On March 2, Chan told The Borneo Post that he hoped the agreement could be signed in March rather than April as announced by Nancy.
The consortium is made up of five companies; namely Bau Transport Company Sdn Bhd, Biaramas Express Sdn Bhd, City Public Link Bus Service Sdn Bhd, Petra Jaya Transport ( Sarawak) Sdn Bhd and Sarawak Transport Company Bhd, all members of SBTCA.
He said brand new buses, which are environment-friendly and disabled-friendly and equipped with electronic ‘ touch-n- go’ ticketing system, WiFi, GPS (global positioning system) tracking, free journey/tracking app and CCTV, would be purchased for the project.
The route would be quite extensive, covering a total distance of more than 27,000 km a day – South to Kuching Sentral and Samarahan, North to Damai, Bako, Samariang and Kubah Ria, East to Demak Laut and West to Batu Kawa, added Chan.
When announcing that the consortium was expected to sign the agreement with the Prime Minister’s Department in April on Feb 3, Nancy said the federal cabinet had approved RM114 million for SBST in six cities throughout the country including Seremban, Kuching, Samarahan and Johor Baharu.
“We start with cities first and will gradually spread out to cover more areas. For areas that are yet to be covered, we can use the Interim Stage Bus Support Fund (ISBSF),” she told a news conference after chairing a Commercial Vehicle Licensing Board (LPKP) Sarawak meeting.