KUCHING, April 23 2026: Sarawak Commercial Vehicle Licensing Board (LPKP) chairman Michael Kong (picture) has confirmed that there have been no application for licence for 12 buses for Chung Hua Primary School No. 6.
He said the initiative to provide free school bus services to the school was led by a State Legislative Member (SLM) with the state government.
“Foremost, to date, there has not been any application submitted to LPKP Sarawak for the issuance of a school bus licence for any of the 12 buses involved in this initiative,” he said in a statement.
Yesterday, Padungan SLM Chong Chieng Jen had asked if there was any application submitted to the board for the issuance of the licence.
Kong said from his understanding the free school bus initiative was launched on Jan 12 this year.
“Since its commencement, none of these buses has been issued with the required school bus licences, and they continue to operate without proper authorisation.
“It must be emphasised that the requirement for a school bus licence is not a mere formality, but a critical safeguard for the safety of passengers.
“Before any licence is issued, the vehicle must undergo proper inspection, the driver must possess a valid public service vehicle (PSV) licence (which carries stricter requirements than an ordinary driving licence) and the vehicle must be adequately covered by insurance.
“These conditions are in place to ensure that school children are transported safely,” he stressed.
“Just this morning, there was an accident involving an unlicensed school bus at Taman Samarindah when the operator was in the midst of sending school children to their school.
“In such a situation, any insurance claims will be denied because the bus operator was operating unlawfully without the necessary licences.
“Fortunately, no children were seriously injured in this morning's incident,” he said, adding that this highlights the importance of having the necessary licences from LPKP Sarawak before operating.
He said across Sarawak, hundreds of school bus operators have successfully complied with these requirements and were only permitted to operate after obtaining the necessary licences.
“The application process is neither overly complex nor burdensome,” he added.
He said that LPKP Sarawak has since November 2023 implemented the ISPKP system, which allows operators to apply for licences directly without relying on third parties or runners.
“This system is designed to be efficient, transparent, and accessible, and our officers are always ready to assist applicants where needed,” he said.
“There is therefore no justification for any operator, including those under this initiative, to be exempted from these legal requirements,” he said, stating the fact remains that these 12 buses have been operating without licences since January 2026.
“While LPKP Sarawak acknowledges and supports efforts to provide free transportation for students, such initiatives must not come at the expense of safety or compliance with the law.
“I therefore urge the SLM concerned to take immediate steps to ensure that all operators under this programme submit their applications for the necessary licences without further delay.
“On the part of LPKP Sarawak, I promise to give full co-operation to this initiative, and once we receive the application for the School Bus Licence, we will take immediate steps to process the applications to regularise the initiative,” Kong assured.
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