(Miri, 23rd) Sarawak's Minister of Transport, Dato Seri Lee Kim Shin, pointed out that the Sarawak Traffic Games is not only a competition but also a learning platform aimed at raising community awareness on road safety and nurturing a sense of responsibility in the younger generation to obey traffic rules.
"To maximize the educational and recreational effects, the Ministry of Transport has allocated funds to comprehensively upgrade the six major traffic parks in Kuching, Sri Aman, Sarikei, Sibu, Bintulu, and Miri. These improved facilities will provide students and participants with a safer and more interactive learning environment."
He made this statement during the opening ceremony of the 2024 Sarawak Traffic Games Competition held at the Miri Artificial Lake Traffic Park. This marks an important step in fostering road safety awareness among the new generation. The event was officiated by Sarawak's Minister of Transport, Datuk Seri Lee Kim Shin.
In his speech, Lee mentioned that this event has been restarted since 2015 and is being held in Miri for the first time, with plans to expand to other regions such as Kuching, Sri Aman, Sibu, Bintulu, and Sarikei next year, benefiting more students and communities.
He especially thanked Sarawak Shell for generously donating six bicycles for the event. These bicycles, previously used in the Shell Traffic Games Competition, will continue to play an important role in enhancing children's road safety education.
Lee mentioned that the Sarawak Traffic Games has three main goals: the first is to raise awareness by teaching students about traffic rules, signs, and safety practices; the second is to promote participation through interactive simulations to cultivate teamwork and critical thinking; and the third is to advocate safety, encouraging students to become road safety advocates in schools and communities.
Additionally, he pointed out that as a precursor to the event, a "Road Safety Speech Competition" was successfully held on the 19th of this month at the Miri State Library, where 18 students showcased their profound insights into road safety.
Dato Seri Lee Kim Shin also expressed gratitude for the cooperation from various parties, including the Miri Resident’s Office, Miri City Council, the Road Transport Department, Royal Police, Public Works Department, Miri Education Office, Department of Agriculture, Broadcasting Department, Department of Information, Civil Defense Department, and the Public Relations Unit of the Sarawak Premier’s Office.
"It is through everyone's effort and collaboration that today's event was successfully organized."
He called on the public to pay attention to Sarawak's worrying traffic accident statistics, obey traffic laws, and drive cautiously. He hopes that with the revival of the traffic games, more people will realize the importance of road safety.