I was a little bit surprised when I saw the poll result regarding Rapid Penang in the Penang State Government Official Portal.
A total of 1026 people voted as at 7.45 pm, Monday, 28th April 2008. About 2/3 (66.3%) of them think Rapid Penang will solve public transport woes.
Syabas to Rapid Penang. Recently, Rapid Penang have expanded their fleet to 150 buses. Hope that, Rapid Penang will continue to improve with the financial support of the Federal Government. There are still room for improvements.
Unfortunately, we have NGOs who are trying to persuade the Pakatan Rakyat state government to take over the public transport and disrupt the process of improvement started by the previous government albeit a little too slow.
The state government should focus on how to get the other public bus companies to improve especially the frequent breakdowns, abolishment of pajak system, etc so that we have healthy competition.
Isnin, 14 April 2008 EDISI WILAYAH
Utara: Pengguna desak kerajaan ambil alih khidmat bas
GEORGETOWN: Persatuan Pengguna Bas Pulau Pinang (PPBPP) menggesa kerajaan negeri mengambil alih semua syarikat perkhidmatan bas awam bagi menangani pelbagai masalah yang melanda di negeri ini sejak kebelakangan ini.
Penyelaras PPBPP, Ong Boon Keong, berkata kerajaan baru perlu mengambil tindakan drastik bagi menyelesaikan kemelut perkhidmatan bas awam di sini.
"Kerajaan negeri boleh mewujudkan sebuah syarikat bas awam tunggal dan dikawal oleh kerajaan negeri. Ia bagi memastikan sistem pengangkutan awam dilaksanakan lebih sistematik, seragam dan tidak bercelaru," katanya pada sidang akhbar di sini, semalam.
Beliau berkata, jika bas awam dimiliki kerajaan negeri, secara tidak langsung ia akan lebih mudah dikawal dan bebas daripada segala bentuk kepentingan berunsur peribadi.
"Selain itu, setiap keuntungan daripada perkhidmatan berkenaan akan terus masuk dalam akaun kerajaan dan boleh digunakan semula untuk pembangunan untuk rakyat," katanya.
Ong berkata, pengangkutan awam sepatutnya diuruskan oleh kerajaan negeri memandangkan mereka lebih arif mengenai selok-belok sistem itu bagi mewujudkan perkhidmatan cemerlang kepada rakyat.
Beliau berkata, masalah dalam sistem pengangkutan Pulau Pinang sudah wujud sejak 10 tahun lalu sejak bas mini baru diperkenalkan pada waktu itu.
Sehubungan itu, PPBPP dan pelbagai badan bukan kerajaan (NGO) sudah mengadakan pertemuan dengan kerajaan negeri bagi mengutarakan beberapa cadangan bagi memperbaiki kemudahan awam itu.
Pada masa sama, Ong mencadangkan kepada kerajaan negeri menubuhkan Suruhanjaya Pengangkutan Awam bagi merancang strategi untuk mengukuhkan perkhidmatan bas awam.
Beliau berkata, langkah itu perlu dilakukan kerana Pulau Pinang belum menghadapi masalah kepadatan penduduk hingga memerlukan perkhidmatan awam alternatif seperti transit aliran ringan (LRT) atau monorel.
See also:
Rapid Penang To Upgrade
Rapid Penang Official Website
Rapid Penang Wikipedia
Update:
NST Online, 2008/04/11
Bus lease system must go, says board
GEORGE TOWN: The Commercial Vehicle Licensing Board (CVLB) is determined to get rid of the lease system used by several bus companies here.
"The lease system has caused a public outcry, especially from commuters and the board wants to see an end to the problem," he said yesterday.
The information being collected includes identifying the bus companies, the drivers, the number of buses and the routes plied. Once complete, the CVLB would issue a show-cause letter to the companies.
"If they fail to respond within a specific time, we will take action on a case-by-case basis.
He confirmed receiving a letter with details of the bus companies from state Traffic Management Committee chairman Chow Kon Yeow.
Chow, in a letter dated April 9, stated that all companies, with the exception of RapidPenang, were involved in the lease system.
He further stated that it was the board's responsibility to ensure that the public transportation system was upgraded for the benefit of the public.
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