Sibu: The Sarawak Ministry of Transport will upgrade traffic parks across the state as part of efforts to strengthen practical road safety education among school students. State Transport Minister Datuk Seri Lee Kim Shin announced that the six existing traffic parks, located in Sibu, Kuching, Sri Aman, Sarikei, Bintulu, and Miri, have received special allocations to ensure these facilities remain as safe and impactful learning spaces.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the Rejang Park Traffic Garden, built over 30 years ago, has been allocated RM350,000 for upgrading works. This initiative aligns with the ministry’s broader effort to restore and enhance road safety education. Lee emphasized the importance of upgrading these facilities to provide students with real-life experiences that simulate actual road situations, thereby enhancing their understanding of traffic rules.

Lee also revealed plans to increase the number of traffic parks under the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP), ensuring that every division in Sarawak has at least one fully equipped and functioning traffic park. He highlighted the ministry’s commitment to expanding access to road safety education for students and rural communities, aiming to include all groups in the effort to nurture responsible road users.

Tracing the programme’s history, Lee mentioned that the Shell Traffic Games, introduced in 1963 through a collaboration between the Sarawak government and Shell Malaysia, significantly impacted public awareness of road safety before its discontinuation in 2015. The programme was revived and rebranded as the Sarawak Traffic Games last year, starting in Miri, and has since become an annual event that benefits students throughout the state.

Lee added that the next editions of the Sarawak Traffic Games are scheduled to be held in Sri Aman and Bintulu by the end of this year. The event in Sibu involved students from nine primary and secondary schools in the district.