TAIPING: Rapid Bus Sdn Bhd, a subsidiary of Prasarana Malaysia Berhad (Prasarana), today announced that the Rapid Kamunting bus service in Perak will cease operation from June 15.

Rapid Bus, in a statement, said it was due to funding constraints and low demand since it began operating in 2016.

Rapid Kamunting is an initiative under the government's National Blue Ocean Strategy (NBOS) in collaboration with the Northern Corridor Implementation Authority (NCIA), Taiping Municipal Council and Prasarana.

It provides service on three routes - Route 10 (Taiping Loop), Route 20 (Heritage Trail Loop) and Route 30 (Bukit Jana - Kg Boyan).

"Rapid Kamunting is an effort to catalyse economic growth, connectivity and convenience for the people and local residents.


"After the support and fundings from the NCIA ended in Feb 2019, the local authorities and the state government no longer expressed interest in continuing the Rapid Kamunting service," the statement said.

Rapid Bus said the Rapid Kamunting had also faced a decline in the number of passengers to only 30 per cent with daunting challenges to cover its operating costs.

The bus operator also apologised to Rapid Kamunting's loyal customers around Taiping and Kamunting for having to end the bus service.

"It was not an easy decision and it had been discussed at the highest level with all our stakeholders.

"We also would like to take this opportunity to thank all our customers for their support and also Rapid Kamunting staff for their contributions over the years," the statement read.

-- BERNAMA