MIRI (May 6): SMK Baru students and teachers had an eye-opening field day as they experienced riding the Miri smart bus for the first time.

The initiative aimed to encourage students to become familiar with public bus services with the hope they will continue to utilise the services in the future.

Transport Minister Dato Sri Lee Kim Shin told reporters before the ride from the Miri Stage Bus Terminal near Wisma Pelita Tunku here that many students had not used public buses before, which was why exposure was important in building confidence and awareness.

“We want to promote the use of public transport, and to do that, we start from schools. In the future, they will know how to use it independently.

“Through this experience, we want to show them that the service is safe, comfortable, and equipped with features such as tracking systems and closed-circuit television,” he said.

Meanwhile, the school’s principal Wong Kung Kui shared that most of the students were excited about the experience, especially when they were able to track the bus’ movement through their mobile app.

“After learning how to riding the smart bus, they can share their experience with their families, which indirectly promoting public transportation service within the community,” he said.

To maximise the riding experience, Lee joined the students on the bus ride back to school, highlighting the importance of hands-on experience in encouraging behavioural change.

The Senadin assemblyman added that SMK Baru was the second school after SMK Merbau to experience the initiative.

He said the initiative could be expanded to other schools, allowing more students to benefit and helping to reduce reliance on private vehicles, particularly for school and extracurricular activities.

Credits: Cindy Lai, The Borneo Post 2026