03-08-2025
Sarawak plans traffic gardens across divisions to promote road safety
Lee (left) and Dr Jerip (right) on pedal cars, with Kevin (behind Lee), Chieng, Izkandar, Ting (fourth right), Lau (seventh right) and others during a photo session at the event. – Photo by Peter Boon
SIBU (Aug 4): The Sarawak Transport Ministry plans to establish at least one traffic garden in each division under the 13th Malaysia Plan (RMK13), according to its Minister, Dato Sri Lee Kim Shin.
The initiative aims to extend road safety education to students and rural communities, with the goal of cultivating more courteous and responsible road users.
'And under the Sarawak Road Safety Council, which I chair, we are committed to reducing road accidents across the state. We want everyone to be safe on our roads,' said Lee during the Sarawak Traffic Games 2025, held at Rejang Park Traffic Garden here yesterday.
He emphasised the need for collaboration from all government agencies and the community to make this initiative a success.
'With the roll-out of the Sarawak Traffic Games, students can become ambassadors who understand and promote traffic rules,' he added.
The event saw participation from nine local primary and secondary schools, including SK St Mary, SJKC Taman Rajang, SJKC Tung Hua, SK Perbandaran Sibu No.4, SMK Methodist, SMK Sungai Merah, SMK Bandar Sibu, SMK Tung Hua, and SMK Chung Hua Sibu.
Lee encouraged all schools in Sibu to join the next edition of the Games, where the top five teams will qualify for the final competition.
This year, 52 schools participated in the public speaking component of the Sarawak Traffic Games by submitting videos between July 8 and July 16.
A participant being 'stopped' by traffic police. – Photo by Peter Boon
The Shell Traffic Games, initially launched in 1963 through a collaboration between the Sarawak government and Shell Malaysia, had been discontinued in 2015 before making a comeback in 2024.
'This legacy has been successfully revived and rebranded in 2024 as the Sarawak Traffic Games, under the full implementation of the Ministry of Transport Sarawak,' said Lee.
The programme officially resumed in Miri in November 2024 and has since been held in Sarikei, Kuching, and now in Sibu.
Future editions are scheduled for Sri Aman and Bintulu.
Lee highlighted that the Rejang Park Traffic Garden, built over 30 years ago, plays a central role in hosting the Games in Sibu.
'My Ministry has helped upgrade the traffic garden with an allocation of RM350,000,' he noted.
Rejang Park is among six traffic gardens in Sarawak, alongside those in Kuching, Sri Aman, Sarikei, Bintulu, and Miri, which have received special funding to remain safe and effective learning spaces for students.
Acting Sibu Resident Christopher Ranggau Unting expressed hope that the Sarawak Traffic Games would be institutionalised as an annual event, offering early and informal education on road safety and civic ethics to schoolchildren.
The event was attended by deputy Transport Minister (Aviation and Road) Datuk Dr Jerip Susil; Bukit Assek assemblyman Joseph Chieng; Senator Robert Lau; Road Transport Department (JPJ) Sarawak director Norizan Jili; Sibu police chief ACP Zulkipli Suhaili; Sibu Municipal Council chairman Clarence Ting and his deputy Mohammed Abdullah Izkandar Roseley; and Sibu Rural District Council Environment and Public Health Standing Committee Chairman Cr Kevin Lau. Lee Kim Shin road safety Sarawak Traffic Games traffic garden
