SIBU: Local councils will be roped into efforts to curb traffic congestion particularly in school areas.
To achieve this the Ministry of Public Health, Housing and Local Government has introduced a traffic warden training programme for councils.
Deputy Minister, Michael Tiang said five local councils participated in the training programme conducted by the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) in Kuching.
They are the Kuching South City Council (MBKS), Padawan Council, Sibu Municipal Council, Miri City Council and Kota Samarahan Council.
“This traffic warden training programme was delayed due to the Covid-19 pandemic. So finally, we completed the training programme yesterday in Kuching.
“This is the pilot programme. We believe in the future we will train more enforcers from the local council to become traffic wardens.
“The traffic warden can be assigned to all the very demanding areas to help conduct traffic and ensure traffic flow is smoother, especially in front of the school areas,” he said when met by reporters after the launching of the Sarawak Teachers Union seminar yesterday (June 18).
“Teachers are not trained and equipped to do that kind of job. That job should be done by some trained traffic wardens under our ministry,” he said.
To a question on whether the traffic warden will be located in the outskirts of town Tiang emphasised that for the time being, they will focus more on urban areas of major towns.
“Traffic issues normally happen more severely in the town area, urban area, outskirts maybe they don’t have that kind of issue. The need is much higher in the town center,” he said.
He hoped that the traffic warden will be good enough to handle the traffic congestion issue, especially outside the school area.
“We cannot depend on the PDRM to come and control traffic all the time. I think the local council should.
“That is why our ministry should have this programme to address the traffic congestion issue in our local community.
“As you know the traffic congestion that happens outside the school compound is not only affecting the school but also affecting the public access and use of the public road,” he said.
