“School bus fares take over 10% of my salary and that of my husband,” she said at Projek Perumahan Rakyat (PPR) Pantai Ria here today.

Now, the free school bus service for children of PPR (low-cost housing) and PR (public housing), which began yesterday, has reduced her burden.

Hamidah, 38, is among 6,500 parents of children of PPR and PR residents who benefit from the free bus service provided by Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL).

DBKL provides 165 buses for use by primary and secondary school students in 74 PPR and PR here, involving an allocation of RM80 for each student.

For Kamal Abdullah, 42, the free school bus service will reduce the burden of commuting between home and the school attended by his two children.

“Previously, I had to take a break from work to take them home at noon but now I can rely on the free school bus,” said the resident of Air Panas PPR.

Hotel worker Ahmad Razif Omar, 47, said he was grateful for the free school bus service since it was safer than taking his two children on a motorcycle.

“The school bus driver also lives in the same housing area. This further assures me of my children’s safety.”

Bus operator Mohd Izwan Abd Rahman praised the free school bus initiative but suggested DBKL try to optimise the trips made.

“The deployment of 10 more buses for Pantai Ria PPR means that the buses are not full since there are already 10 buses serving the housing project.

“This is not economical. DBKL must also inform the parents of the bus numbers to avoid confusion,” he added.