Santubong: After waiting for more than 20 years, fisherman Sidi Kamis, 63, from Kampung Semariang Batu, has finally obtained his Class B2 motorcycle licence through the Driving Licence Assistance Programme.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the licence was presented by Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri, who is also Santubong MP, at the Santubong Parliamentary B2 Driving Licence Assistance Programme presentation ceremony. Sidi shared that he previously rode a motorcycle without a licence due to financial constraints and a belief that a licence was unnecessary for his limited travel within the village. The ceremony was also attended by Sarawak Road Transport Department (JPJ) director Norizan Jili.

Sidi was motivated to apply for the programme after seeing an advertisement on television, realizing the importance of having a licence for safety. He expressed gratitude for the programme, which has eased the financial burden for those from the lower-income group, and encouraged others without a licence to take advantage of the opportunity.

Meanwhile, Norizan stated that 32,455 participants obtained Class B2 motorcycle licences through similar programmes in Sarawak from 2024 to August 22, 2026. The programme has been expanded to rural and coastal areas, with the possibility of increasing the quota if applications exceed the current allocation.