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Chong (left) waves to a taxi driver after helping an elderly identified only as Mr Wee to board the taxi during the soft launch of the service.
KUCHING (June 15): Democratic Action Party (DAP) Sarawak has launched a free transportation service for those who need to go for their Covid-19 vaccination appointment in Kuching.
Its chairman Chong Chieng Jen said the party is working together with a taxi association in Kuching to provide free transportation for members of the public with appointment for vaccination but do not have transport to go the vaccination centre (PPV).
He explained that for a start, the party sets aside RM100 budget for a to and fro trip and pledged to increase the budget for the service if more people require it.
“You don’t have to pay for the taxi driver. We will pay for the taxi driver to pick you and send you to the PPV and bring you back (to your home)
“We will foot the bill. Hopefully this will facilitate the vaccination programme and also to help the taxi industry,” he said before soft launch of the service at Jalan Padungan today.
He hoped this service will also help the taxi sector, which has been badly hit since the pandemic started following the imposition of restrictions under movement control orders (MCOs).
“We are grateful that the government did give some subsidy and grant to the taxi owners, but still they are finding it very difficult to make ends meet. Hopefully with this programme, we can kill two birds with one stone,” he said.
He called on those who are in need of this service to contact him, Pending assemblywoman Violet Yong, Bandar Kuching MP Dr Kelvin Yii or any of his special assistants Michael Kong, Sim Kiat Leng and Abdul Aziz Isa.
“But please call us one or two days before so that the arrangement can be easier made and it will not be a last minute so that we can arrange for the taxi to pick you.”
On a related matter, Chong hoped more people will come forward and get themselves vaccinated against Covid-19 so that the target of vaccinating 80 per cent of the state’s population can be achieved.
“We will return to normal life (once this is achieved). If you look at the other countries such as United Kingdom, United States of America, China, Australia and New Zealand where their vaccination rate has surpassed 50 or 60 per cent of the population, their economy has reopened and people have gone back to work like before and they do not to wear masks anymore.
“I think the way the government is carrying out this vaccination programme is a bit slow, but nevertheless we will do our part to expedite this programme,” he said.
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