SIBU: The Sarawak Transport Ministry has stepped up its road safety measures ahead of the upcoming Chinese New Year celebrations, as authorities brace for a significant increase in traffic and inter-district travel across the state.
Minister Datuk Seri Lee Kim Shin said road safety must remain a top priority during the festive season, noting that accident statistics continue to paint a worrying picture.
“Chinese New Year is a time of joy and reunion, but it is also a period when traffic volume rises sharply.
"These statistics are not merely numbers — they represent lives lost, families affected and communities impacted,” he said at a Sibu Division Chinese New Year road safety campaign on Tuesday (February 10).
Lee said, according to police data, Sarawak recorded 21,747 road accidents between January and December 2025. Of these, 418 cases resulted in fatalities, while 189 people sustained serious injuries and 300 suffered minor injuries.
In Sibu alone, 2,146 road accidents were recorded during the same period.
"The district saw 39 fatalities, 13 serious injuries and six minor injuries," he said.
Lee said the figures underscored the urgent need for stronger enforcement, awareness and cooperation among all road users.
To enhance safety throughout the festive period, he announced that the Sarawak Road Transport Department (JPJ) will implement a special Chinese New Year enforcement operation in conjunction with the 2026 celebrations.
The 14-day operation, scheduled from February 9 to February 22, will involve all JPJ Sarawak enforcement personnel, with leave frozen to ensure smooth and effective implementation.
As a preventive measure, JPJ’s Automotive Engineering Unit will conduct technical inspections on express buses at major depots in Kuching, Sibu and Miri from February 9 to February 12.
"Comprehensive enforcement and monitoring will then be carried out from February 13 to February 22, focusing on compliance with road laws, vehicle safety and driver discipline, particularly among commercial vehicle operators," he added.
Driving restrictions on commercial goods vehicles will also be enforced before the festival on February 14 and 15, and after the celebrations on February 21 and 22, to reduce accident risks and ease traffic flow.
“This road ban is not meant to inconvenience any party. It is implemented to safeguard the public, especially families travelling home for the festivities,” Lee said.
The operation will be conducted in close cooperation with the police and the National Anti-Drug Agency (AADK), targeting traffic enforcement, safety compliance and the prevention of drug abuse among drivers.
