TAIPING: Come April next year, an electric bus will be ferrying passengers around this historic town.

       Taiping Municipal Council (MPT) president Khairul Amir Mohamad Zubir said currently, the electric vehicle was still at the workshop of its strategic partner in Cyberjaya, awaiting confirmation and approval from all the relevant agencies before operating permission is given.

       “MPT is now in the final stage of obtaining relevant operating permits from several agencies.

       “In fact, two charging centres at MPT workshops in Kamunting and Taman Tasik Taiping have been tested and are working well,” he told Bernama.

       The medium-sized bus, which is fully electric, was donated by the Japanese government through the Japan International Cooperation Agency with the cooperation of several local companies, as well as Japanese firms.

       Khairul Amir said the bus would have 22 seats, as well as one seat for a person with disabilities.

       Recently, Perak state exco member Mohd Akmal Kamarudin said MPT was in the final stages of implementing the use of electric buses on the Taiping Heritage Trail, which is aimed at being a catalyst for local heritage tourism.

       The electric bus will begin operating around Taiping up to the Heritage Trail – a distance of 11.5km, he added.