Committee to present free public transport proposal to govts

MIRI: A technical working committee will present the proposal and working papers to Sarawak and federal governments for the provision of free public transportation for Miri.

Pakatan Harapan ( PH), during the 14th general election revealed a plan to provide free public transportation in Miri City as part of strategies to ease the burden of the lower-income groups following the successful implementation of a similar system in Selangor and Penang.

DAP Pujut assemblyman Dr Ting Tiong Choon, when contacted yesterday for the latest development on the proposal, said he and Miri MP Dr Michael Teo Yu Keng (PKR) are working together to ensure the proposal could be implemented in the city as it could also ease traffic congestion in certain areas in the city.

“The project is estimated to cost RM20 million including the cost of 70 buses,” he said, adding that they were also looking to implement similar project in Kuching.

“We have met bus companies and those related to public transportation including members of the public to gather feedback before coming up with the working papers.

“We would then approach people in the Ministry of Transport for the support and endorsement before we present it to Sarawak and federal governments,” he added.

Dr Ting said the free public transportation would serve all types of passengers including students in primary and secondary schools.

He said the free public transportation would not only provide services within Miri City but also places in the outskirts as well as in Baram and Batu Niah.

Asked about the time it would take to implement the project, Dr Ting said further details would be divulged once the proposal has been scrutinised and finalised by the relevant authorities.