GEDONG: Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg has urged road users, especially the young, to maintain discipline and obey traffic laws as the state expands its road network.
He emphasised the importance of responsible driving, warning against reckless behaviour such as illegal street racing.
“Soon, our roads here will be expanded. From Munggu Kopi, Serian, we will begin construction till Kota Samarahan, making it a dual carriageway.
“Please don’t use the roads for racing – that’s all I ask.
“We are building these roads for the people’s convenience, so don’t misuse them for illegal racing (mat rempit).
“I urge the youth to obey the law and not take advantage of the facilities provided by the government,” he said.
He made this statement during his speech at the closing ceremony of the Driving Licence Assistance (BLM) B2 programme at Dewan Datuk Patinggi Ali here today.
Reflecting on his own experience as a motorcycle rider, he shared that he had always prioritised road safety.
“I have a full B licence and have been riding motorcycles for a long time. Alhamdulillah, I have never been in an accident because I always follow the law,” he said.
Regarding the program, a total of 1,135 residents from Gedong, Batang Sadong, Sadong Jaya, and Simunjan were selected and successfully obtained their B2 motorcycle licences after completing the required courses and tests
The programme aimed to provide affordable motorcycle licences for low-income individuals under the Ministry of Transport Malaysia’s (MOT) Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative.
Since its launch in early 2024, the programme has benefited 13,370 residents across Sarawak, with participation numbers expected to increase in the coming years based on eligibility criteria.
State Road Transport Department (JPJ) Director Norizan Jili, who also spoke, emphasised the importance of responsible road use among the program’s beneficiaries, urging them to adhere to traffic regulations and contribute to reducing road accidents.
“We hope that the recipients of this assistance will become disciplined and responsible road users.
“By obeying traffic laws, they can help lower the rate of road accidents in our country.
“Ultimately, this aligns with the government’s aspiration to reduce road accident fatalities by 50 per cent by 2030,” he said.
