CM asks bus firm to again extend Cityliner services
Published: Nov 29, 2011 11:52 AM | Updated: Nov 29, 2011 8:31 PM
Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng has asked Konsortium Transnasional Berhad (KTB) to delay the termination of its Cityliner bus services by at least two weeks until Dec 15 this year.
He urges the Land Public Transport Commission to intervene with funding, resources and review the social routes.
Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng has asked Konsortium Transnasional Berhad (KTB) to delay the termination of its Cityliner bus services by at least two weeks until Dec 15 this year.
Lim said this should be done to give time to finalise negotiations on continuing bus services, which was supposed to be terminated last week, on Nov 21.
He admitted having met KTB’s executive chief and managing director Mohd Nadzmi Mohd Salleh together with Penang executive councillor for public transport Chow Kon Yeow last week.
As a result of the discussion, said Lim, KTB extended their services - 32 Cityliner buses plying seven routes carrying 560 people daily in Seberang Perai - until Thursday, Dec 1.
“The termination of service by Cityliner will affect the public transport user, and cause inconvenience to them,” said Lim in a statement yesterday.
“According to KTB, Cityliner is suffering severe losses and it is no longer viable for the company to operate their services,” he added.
80 routes in six states affected
Last week, Bernama reported that KTB had announced that it may decide to cancel the Cityliner stage bus service in the event there was no solution to its financial problems.
The cancellation involves 80 main routes and 400 buses in Kelantan, Terengganu, Selangor, Kedah, Penang and Pahang, according to the national news agency.
Meanwhile, Lim said that the state government is in active negotiations with KTB to seek a “viable and feasible remedy” for the longer term.
He added that the state was also negotiating with RapidPenang to find a solution.
Lim also urged the Land Public Transport Commission (Spad) to intervene with funding and resources as well as to review both “social” routes (routes that are unprofitable but service rural areas) and popular routes to ensure that they are served by the respective bus companies.
“If bus companies serving social routes cannot be given popular routes, there should be some subsidy or assistance from Spad,” Lim said.
Lim said the state recognises the importance of public transport as a social good and has provided free bus services.
He added that this year the state has spent more than RM2 million to provide 16 bridge express shuttle service transit (Best) buses between Seberang Jaya and the Bayan Lepas FIZ and three buses touring the heritage enclave of George Town for free.
Lim said this should be done to give time to finalise negotiations on continuing bus services, which was supposed to be terminated last week, on Nov 21.
He admitted having met KTB’s executive chief and managing director Mohd Nadzmi Mohd Salleh together with Penang executive councillor for public transport Chow Kon Yeow last week.
As a result of the discussion, said Lim, KTB extended their services - 32 Cityliner buses plying seven routes carrying 560 people daily in Seberang Perai - until Thursday, Dec 1.
“The termination of service by Cityliner will affect the public transport user, and cause inconvenience to them,” said Lim in a statement yesterday.
“According to KTB, Cityliner is suffering severe losses and it is no longer viable for the company to operate their services,” he added.
80 routes in six states affected
Last week, Bernama reported that KTB had announced that it may decide to cancel the Cityliner stage bus service in the event there was no solution to its financial problems.
The cancellation involves 80 main routes and 400 buses in Kelantan, Terengganu, Selangor, Kedah, Penang and Pahang, according to the national news agency.
Meanwhile, Lim said that the state government is in active negotiations with KTB to seek a “viable and feasible remedy” for the longer term.
He added that the state was also negotiating with RapidPenang to find a solution.Lim also urged the Land Public Transport Commission (Spad) to intervene with funding and resources as well as to review both “social” routes (routes that are unprofitable but service rural areas) and popular routes to ensure that they are served by the respective bus companies.
“If bus companies serving social routes cannot be given popular routes, there should be some subsidy or assistance from Spad,” Lim said.
Lim said the state recognises the importance of public transport as a social good and has provided free bus services.
He added that this year the state has spent more than RM2 million to provide 16 bridge express shuttle service transit (Best) buses between Seberang Jaya and the Bayan Lepas FIZ and three buses touring the heritage enclave of George Town for free.
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