GEORGE TOWN: Hoping to become a delivery rider soon, Joern Teo is pleased he can now go back to driving school to practise.
The 18-year-old is looking forward to getting his licence soon, having seen his plans disrupted by the lockdown earlier.
“Since I had no plans to further my studies, the reopening of driving schools is a relief for myself and my parents as I want to become a delivery rider soon.
“I have completed a few hours of practice and wanted to take the exam but my plans were disrupted by the lockdown.
“After being fully vaccinated and with driving schools now allowed to reopen, I can continue with my practice and hopefully, be able to pass the exam soon,” he said when contacted.
At a driving school here in Batu Uban, there were fewer than 50 students seen returning for their driving practice and classes.
Its director Uu Ban Lee, who is also the Confederation of the Associations of Driving Schools/Institutes Malaysia secretary, said they were experiencing low turnout as many students, aged between 16 and 18, had yet to be fully vaccinated.
“Many teenagers are unable to resume classes as they have yet to get both doses of a Covid-19 vaccine. Fewer than 50 students have returned out of the 800 registered here.
“It will be another month or two before we start seeing the numbers increase,” he added.
At a driving school in Simpang Ampat on the mainland, manager See Sing Mei said out of 200 registered students, only two fully vaccinated students were able to return to class.
“But even so, they are students who have to retake their exams, not the ones who are new to classes,” she said.
On Sept 7, Transport Minister Datuk Dr Wee Ka Siong announced that all driving institutes nationwide will be permitted to operate from Sept 9 by appointment.
He said the operation must be done in compliance with guidelines from the National Security Council.
He said while driving institutes have been permitted to operate from Sept 9, the examination process to obtain driving licences would only begin on Sept 17.