Land public transport system, policies to be more commuter-centric

Over RM70 billion investments in land public transport infrastructure projects have had significant catalytic effects on Malaysia's economy, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

"The investments in projects such as the Light Rapid Transit (LRT), Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) and High Speed Rail (HSR), has had wide-ranging catalytic effects on our economy.

"It will bring much benefits to the society, both immediately and in the longer term," he added.

Najib, who is also Finance Minister, was speaking at the Land Public Transport Commission's (SPAD) Five-Year Report launching ceremony, Exhibition and Symposium at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre here today.

He said over the past five years, Malaysia had taken significant strides and made good progress on the National Land Public Transport Master Plan, as reflected by the higher public transport mode share of 22 percent in 2015 from 10 percent in 2009.

The government aimed to increase this share to 40 percent by end-2020, he said.

"For this to happen, our land public transport system and policies must be more commuter-centric and responsive to fundamental demographic changes.

"More importantly, commuters must be convinced that public transport can serve their needs, and get them to their destinations reliably and comfortably," he added.

Among investments lodged by the government for land public transport are the RM40.85 million for GoKL free city bus service, as well as, the RM548 million for bus services initiative called the Interim Stage Bus Support Fund.

The Prime Minister said the government had also invested RM20.6 million for the operationalisation of myBAS services by SPAD in Kangar since August 2015, in Seremban since January 2016 and in Ipoh since June 2016.

Besides that, the government has also allocated RM760 million for the repairs, rehabilitation and upgrading works for the East Coast line from Gemas to Tumpat.

Additionally, RM661 million has been invested in Bus Rapid Transit Sunway, a pilot project via public-private partnership, which started operations in June 2015.

In March 2012, the government increased the capacity for KTM Komuter services by investing RM1.89 billion to add 38 units of six-car train set.

This has contributed to the 45 percent increase in KTM Komuter ridership from 96,798 daily in 2012 to 141,281 passengers daily at end-2015.

The government has also lodged investments to upgrade KTM Komuter's ageing infrastructure, with RM1.41 billion investment for the rehabilitation exercise of the 20 year-old Klang Valley Double Track, Najib added. -- Bernama