City schooling made cheaper, more convenient under state-sponsored initiative
MUKAH: The state government has hit upon a people-centric initiative that will make going to and fro school cheaper and more convenient.
Under the initiative, still under study, announced yesterday by Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg the state will fund a subsidised school bus service in the big cities.
The Gabungan Party Sarawak (GPS) chairman said the subsidised bus service will focus in the cities where traffic jams can be a constant nightmare and children and their parents travel far to get to school.
“We know parents in big cities too often have to bear the cost (bus fees) of between RM20 and RM30 per child. Imagine if a family has two or more school-going children, the bus fare is burdensome,” the chief minister said at a TownHall session of ‘Berembeh Bersama Abang Jo’ at Dewan Suarah Mesra Mukah, yesterday.
The chief minister said the state government is looking into a “realistic proposal” in terms of the cost of sending children to schools in the cities.
“The proposal is still at the Yayasan Sarawak’s review stage as there are technical problems requiring discussion with the Road Transport Department (JPJ),” he revealed.
He said these technical problems include getting suitable vehicles that meet the safety requirements of JPJ.
“We have to have more discussions among ourselves and with JPJ further before we can proceed further,” he said, adding he will make further announcement as soon as the study is completed.
Abang Johari said besides the latest proposal the state government will think of other forms of allocations and assistance to the people from time to time to help them beat the rising cost of living.
During question time, a student asked the chief minister if the state had any plans to help ease transportation problem of students of Mukah Polytechnic (PMU).
The chief minister responded, saying that the state government will give PMU a new bus and will finance the repair of the college’s two broken-down buses.
Abang Johari also said the state government will also provide an allocation to repair the fashion collection of a cultural association and the construction of the roof of the volleyball court.
Also present at the event were Welfare, Community Well Being, Women, Family and Childhood Development Minister Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah and Petra Jaya MP Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof.
