First and last-mile connectivity to improve under 13th Malaysia Plan
The Prime Minister said this would involve adding 300 demand-responsive transit (DRT) vans and 1,200 buses to strengthen public transport links within urban areas.
'There will also be an additional 217 passenger train sets to improve the frequency of train services,' he said when tabling the 13MP in the Dewan Rakyat on Thursday (July 31).
Anwar added that connectivity across rural roads will not be neglected, with around 2,800km set to be built and upgraded.
This includes the main road from Nanga Serau to Nanga Seranau in Kapit, Sarawak; the road from the Sungai Air Tawar bridge to Hutan Melintang in Bagan Datuk, Perak; and the Pos Sinderut road in Lipis, Pahang.
Large-scale infrastructure development will continue as part of efforts to enhance connectivity and spur growth.
Projects include the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL), connecting Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang, and the west coast of the peninsula; the Gemas-Johor Bahru double track; the elevated autonomous rapid transit system (E-ART) in Iskandar, Johor; and the LRT Mutiara Line project in Penang.
'These initiatives also speed up transit-oriented development, combining transport elements with housing, commerce, and public service counters,' he said.
Anwar also announced upgrades to existing routes.
This includes the Senai Utara-Machap route in Johor and the Juru-Sungai Dua route in Penang, both located along the PLUS Malaysia Berhad (PLUS) Highway.
Also of focus is the construction of the Lingkaran Tengah Utama Expressway; the Pan Borneo Highway in Sabah and the Trans Borneo Highway in Sarawak.
The Prime Minister added that the road-to-rail initiative aims to shift a large portion of cargo off roads, increasing rail usage from 6% to 13%.
'This will reduce the risk of road accidents,' he said.
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