KUCHING: The Commercial Vehicle Licensing Board (LPKP) Sarawak will strengthen boarding security measures in collaboration with all bus operators and terminals.
This came following a recent incident involving a young boy sneaking onto an express bus and traveling to Kapit undetected.
Its chairman Michael Kong said the board takes public safety and security seriously and expects all licensed bus operators to uphold the highest standards of passenger safety.
“While LPKP Sarawak is primarily a licensing and regulatory board, we have a moral and civic duty to ensure that our license holders adhere to strict safety measures,” said Kong in a statement.
He described the case as a lapse in security protocols by the bus operator and terminal management.
“Despite existing procedures requiring both the bus company staff and terminal staff to verify passengers before departure, the child was able to slip onto the bus after these checks were completed.
“The lack of strict boarding enforcement and the assumption that he was travelling with an adult passenger allowed him to remain undetected until his final destination,” he added.
To tackle the issue, Kong said safety measures would be reinforced, including mandatory final boarding checks, improved surveillance and monitoring, as well as updates to the passenger manifest.
“We remain committed to ensuring high safety standards across the public transport industry. We urge all express bus operators to take their responsibility seriously and enforce better security measures to prevent such incidents in the future.
“We also urge the public and bus passengers to remain vigilant and immediately report any suspicious activity to the bus crew or authorities,” he said.
