Tiang (centre) launching the STU seminar in Sibu.
TRAFFIC congestion in urban areas and schools will be better managed once wardens get to work, says Sarawak Deputy Public Health, Housing and Local Government Minister Michael Tiang.
Tiang said the ministry had trained local authority enforcement officers to take on the role of traffic wardens.
Without disclosing the number of wardens, he said enforcement officers from Kuching South City Council, (MBKS), Padawan City Council, Sibu Municipal Council, Miri City Council and Kota Samarahan Council had been given the necessary training.
The training, which was carried out by the police in Kuching, was completed on June 17.
“The traffic warden training was delayed due to the pandemic.
“This is a pilot project and the officers have now completed their training in Kuching.
“In future, we may train more officers to become traffic wardens,” he said after launching the Sarawak Teachers Union Sibu branch seminar.
Tiang said traffic wardens would also be assigned to schools to help control traffic.
Using Sibu as an example, he said two wardens each would be tasked to control traffic in bottleneck areas at SMK Sacred Heart, SMK St Elizabeth and Ulu Sungai Merah where secondary and primary schools were located.
“They can be assigned to a very demanding area to ensure smoother traffic flow especially in school areas instead of allowing teachers to do the job as it is dangerous since they are not trained for it,” he said.
Tiang is optimistic that the wardens can help make it safer for students studying in schools located in highly congested areas.
He also said that politicians such as assemblymen were not banned from visiting schools based on a statement from the Education Ministry.
He hoped schools would work with assemblymen in caring for students and teachers’ welfare as well as the development of schools.
