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Free Malaysia Today
2 days ago
- Business
- Free Malaysia Today
DBKL aims for 70% of residents to use public transport by 2040
The Kuala Lumpur Local Plan has a strong focus on the city's public transport network, said mayor Maimunah Sharif. KUALA LUMPUR : The Kuala Lumpur Local Plan (PTKL) aims for 70% of the public to be using public transport by 2040, says city mayor Maimunah Sharif. This is in conjunction with PTKL 2040's primary goal of shaping Kuala Lumpur into an all-inclusive 'green' city. In particular, DBKL aims to implement an efficient, low-carbon mobility system city-wide. With 191 initiatives outlined in the plan, PTKL's 'City for All' theme places a heavy focus on sustainability, with the development and maintenance of green spaces a key concept in its spatial planning. During a press briefing, Maimunah said DBKL might provide incentives to increase population density around transit zones where LRT or MRT stations are located. 'This is common in Japan, where people work, live, and play around transit zones. This helps lessen congestion and steers us in the direction of a low-carbon city,' she said. Much of PTKL 2040's zoning revolves around coordinating with the framework of Kuala Lumpur's railway systems, especially the upcoming MRT3 network. PTKL aims to create a transport network that allows the public to go from place to place with a walking distance of less than 400m. There have been various public concerns regarding the accessibility of Kuala Lumpur's public transport system in recent years. Transport think tank My Mobility Vision identified first- and last-mile connectivity as one of the primary issues steering the public towards private vehicle use. Last month, deputy prime minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the use of public transport in Malaysia was still low at around 25%. Zahid suggested that this could be improved with a shift in user attitudes through a combination of reliable public transport systems and comprehensive awareness campaigns.
Free Malaysia Today
3 days ago
- Automotive
- Free Malaysia Today
Structural reset needed to end crashes plaguing bus industry, says expert
Wan Agyl Wan Hassan says the frequency of bus crashes demands more than just a short-term fix. (Bernama pic) PETALING JAYA : Malaysia's bus industry is in urgent need of structural reform to curb the number of fatal crashes plaguing the sector, according to transport consultant Wan Agyl Wan Hassan. Earlier this week, Utusan Malaysia reported that more than 203 bus-related accidents were recorded in the country between January 2023 and May this year, resulting in 39 deaths, 68 serious injuries, and 197 minor injuries. Wan Agyl, founder of transport think tank My Mobility Vision, said those statistics showed the country's road safety record was a 'national failure'. 'It demands more than a short-term fix,' he added. Wan Agyl Wan Hassan. He said the accidents, though varied in their specific causes, were ultimately the result of a transport system under severe stress from cost and manpower pressures, as well as regulatory blind spots. 'On one hand, there's growing demand; more people travelling, more school trips, more factory charters. 'On the other hand, there's a severe shortage of trained and full-time drivers, and margins so thin that operators are forced to take risks just to keep their businesses alive,' he told FMT. Police have attributed the crashes to speeding, poor vehicle maintenance, mechanical failures, and pressure exerted on drivers by bus operators. Yusri said driver error was the main factor behind these accidents, adding that many of them were fatigued from driving for too long without rest, while others had little experience operating buses or were under the influence of alcohol and drugs. Wan Agyl called for a nationwide employment framework for drivers that ensured fair pay, regulated hours and career stability. He said bus drivers are typically hired on 'loose' contracts rather than given permanent employment—unlike countries like Japan where commercial bus drivers are medically screened, trained and employed under a national system. 'In Singapore, the Land Transport Authority contracts bus services based on performance, not just price, ensuring safety standards are part of the business model. 'Even in Dubai, companies like Dubai Taxi Corporation run structured driver employment systems with safety and service built into their operations. Malaysia can do this, but we haven't,' he said. Wan Agyl said a structural reset would involve digitising compliance so that all commercial buses have real-time GPS devices that record speed and distance. To qualify for operating permits, bus companies should also be required to maintain detailed maintenance logs, he added. 'It means auditing and grading bus operators based on safety performance and disqualifying low-grade firms from winning government or tourism contracts. 'And it means finally enacting laws that hold company directors and operators liable — not just the man at the wheel—when systemic negligence leads to harm,' he said. Wan Agyl called for the formation of a national bus safety task force under the transport ministry, with representation from the road transport department, Land Public Transport Agency, Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research, and industry players. 'There is no reason for transport safety to be fragmented when lives are at stake,' he said.
Free Malaysia Today
13-06-2025
- Automotive
- Free Malaysia Today
Don't develop new bus drivers' database in isolation, says transport consultant
Transport minister Loke Siew Fook said the database will include all categories of bus drivers to ensure only responsible individuals are entrusted with the safety of passengers. (Bernama pic) PETALING JAYA : The development of a centralised database to track bus drivers with records of reckless or irresponsible driving, announced by the transport ministry today, cannot function in isolation, says a transport consultant. Wan Agyl Wan Hassan, the founder of the transport think tank My Mobility Vision, praised the database as an important step in the right direction, especially in the wake of recent tragedies. However, he said, it should be integrated directly with the Kejara demerit and traffic summons systems so drivers with unresolved high-risk infractions are automatically blocked from renewing licences or being dispatched for jobs. 'The goal should be to prevent unsafe drivers from getting behind the wheel in the first place; not just penalise them after a tragedy occurs,' he said. Earlier today, transport minister Loke Siew Fook said the database would include all categories of bus drivers to ensure only responsible individuals are entrusted with the safety of passengers. 'We aim to develop this database as a reference for bus operators and transport companies, particularly to identify drivers with prior offences,' New Straits Times reported him as saying. However, Wan Agyl urged the ministry to 'build on what already works', pointing out that some logistics industry sectors, particularly those dealing with hazardous materials, have deployed sophisticated digital compliance platforms. 'In some cases, they are already linked to enforcement data. Instead of developing a new system from scratch, we should explore how these tested tools can be expanded and adapted for broader national use covering buses, commercial fleets and other high-risk operators,' the former official of the now-defunct Land Public Transport Commission said. Besides integration of Kejara and the traffic summons system with the new database, Wan Agyl proposed that the platform be co-developed through public-private collaboration. '(This will bring) together government agencies, enforcement bodies, and industry players who already have the tools, data, and infrastructure in place,' he said.
Free Malaysia Today
23-05-2025
- Business
- Free Malaysia Today
Inject funds to boost public mobility, say transport experts
Public transport facilities in rural areas must be improved to match those in urban areas, such as the MRT system, according to transport experts. PETALING JAYA : Strengthening Malaysia's fiscal and financial position offers an opportunity to revitalise public transport systems for long-term public benefit, says a transport consultant. Wan Agyl Wan Hassan, founder of transport think tank My Mobility Vision, said this effort requires long-term commitment, political courage and the ability to reprioritise fiscal allocations. He said many rural residents still relied heavily on private vehicles due to poor bus services, incomplete route coverage and neglected infrastructure. He said this restricted their mobility and limited access to economic and social opportunities. Wan Agyl Wan Hassan. 'Now is the right time to take bold steps — redirect targeted RON95 fuel subsidy savings into public transport and public mobility,' he told FMT. According to a 2023 report by the Land Public Transport Agency, more than 70% of Malaysians still depended on private vehicles for daily travel. A study by the Malaysia Institute of Transport last year found that only 30% of highway users were willing to switch to public transport — provided it is more accessible. In the 2025 budget, the government allocated funds to the transport ministry to improve public service quality and reduce living costs. About 44% of that funding went towards public transport subsidies, including land rail services and air transport. Gary Foong. Key initiatives included continued subsidies for the My50 (RM50 unlimited monthly travel pass) and Mutiara Pas (for Penang), with an allocation of RM226 million. These were expected to benefit more than 180,000 users in the Klang Valley and the north. Transport expert Gary Foong echoed Wan Agyl's view, urging a stronger shift from private vehicle use to public transport to ease traffic congestion in Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, Penang and Johor Bahru. 'This initiative also supports carbon emission reductions and promotes a more sustainable low-carbon economy,' he said. Rosli Azad Khan. Another transport expert, Rosli Azad Khan, also stressed the need to improve rural public transport using savings from targeted subsidies. 'Conduct thorough studies and analysis to ensure the aid truly benefits those in need,' he said.
Free Malaysia Today
17-05-2025
- Automotive
- Free Malaysia Today
Poor first, last mile connectivity hinders public transport use, say experts
Transport consultant Wan Agyl Wan Hassan said the low usage of public transport contributes to high vehicle density on the roads and leads to severe congestion, especially in major cities like Kuala Lumpur. PETALING JAYA : First and last mile connectivity is one of the main problems the government must address to increase confidence in the use of public transport, says a transport consultant. Wan Agyl Wan Hassan, founder of the transport think tank My Mobility Vision, said many Malaysians still prefer using their own vehicles as they lack easy access to MRT or LRT stations from their homes. The absence of frequent feeder buses and the lack of pedestrian- and cyclist-friendly infrastructure also contribute to the challenge, he said. Wan Agyl said this situation contributes to high vehicle density on the roads and leads to severe congestion, especially in major cities like Kuala Lumpur. Wan Agyl Wan Hassan. 'Issues like the absence of first-mile and last-mile connections, bus delays, irregular schedules, and poor integration between buses, rail, and other services make people prefer driving their own vehicles,' he told FMT. 'Cities like Singapore, Seoul, and Tokyo have not only succeeded in changing public attitudes toward public transport but, more importantly, have created systems that are truly user-friendly, reliable and fully integrated. 'Without such systems in place, awareness campaigns alone will not change anything.' Wan Agyl added that the National Transport Policy (NTP) and National Automotive Policy (NAP) must be aligned to avoid conflict, especially regarding the country's goal of achieving 40% public transport usage while continuing to develop the automotive sector. 'As long as these two policies are not harmonised, the country's aspirations toward the widespread use of public transport will remain stalled,' he said. He was responding to deputy prime minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi's statement on Tuesday that the country's 25% public transport usage rate could be improved with a shift in user attitudes through a combination of reliable public transport systems and comprehensive awareness campaigns. Road transport expert Law Teik Hua said it is crucial to solve poor first- and last-mile connectivity before raising public awareness about public transport. Law Teik Hua. 'Awareness alone is not enough if the public transport system itself is not user-friendly, reliable, or doesn't reach where people live,' the Universiti Putra Malaysia academic said. 'People will choose public transport when it is easier, affordable, and dependable. If they have to walk far to a station, wait too long, or face overcrowding, they will return to using cars.' Law said providing a nationwide public transport system requires long-term planning, a lesson Malaysia could learn from Singapore. He said while public transport is easier to plan in Singapore compared with Malaysia due to the former's smaller footprint, the basic principles of long-term planning, consistent investment, and integrated systems remain relevant. 'Malaysia can learn from Singapore's success in integrated transit planning, smart pricing strategies, and data-driven approaches to improving service quality,' he said.
