MIRI: A total of 384 school bus drivers in the state will be receiving the RM600 one-off cash aid under ‘Sarawakku Sayang Special Assistance’ (BKSS) this month, said state Transport Minister Datuk Lee Kim Shin.

He said for Miri division, 101 school bus drivers have had their applications approved and will be receiving the cash aid by early next week.

“Initially, we have checked that there are more than 730 school bus drivers in the state, but after background checks on the validity of their licence, 384 school bus drivers will be the first batch to receive the aid,” he said yesterday.

Lee was met by reporters after earlier attending a briefing and demonstration of sanitisation of school buses by the Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba) here.

He said all of the applications by school bus drivers will be verified by the Commercial Vehicle Licensing Board before being approved, as there are some drivers who are no longer operating the service.

Adding on, he said the deadline for submission was extended to July 31 due to applications still being received.

In view that schools in most districts in the state will be returning to full capacity this week, Lee also reminded all drivers to thoroughly sanitise their buses and adhere strictly to the standard operating procedures (SOP) put in place.

On the sanitisation demonstration on school buses by Bomba, Lee said similar exercises will be carried out across the state to give drivers a clearer picture of how to properly sanitise their vehicles.

“We hope every driver will do it properly to ensure the safety of all students,” he said.

Among those present at the event were Bomba Miri chief Law Poh Kiong and Miri City School Bus Association chairman Samad Alip.

Source: The Borneo Post Online