The so-called integrated metropolitan bus service in Penang has collapsed, that is if the grouses of the majority of commuters on the island could be taken at face value.

Among the complaints are the long wait for buses, the irregular operation hours, buses stop and pick up passengers at random, plying routes at their whims and fancies and the road-unworthiness of the vehicles.

"Our bus service is poor, unreliable and inefficient. It's useless and virtually non-existent," said housewife Joane Lim echoing the general sentiments of locals when asked on the state of Penang's metropolitan bus service.

A lady commuter who has been residing in Jalan Masjid Negeri for 30 year said she even had to wait for two hours once to board a bus to the Penang jetty.

It is believed that a major reason behind the collapse of the Penang bus service is the unwarranted federal control over public transport in the state.

Instead of allowing the state or local authorities to take charge of public transportation, the federal government, in efforts to help bumiputeras, has exerted direct control over the service..

The Entrepreneurial Development Ministry issues permits to bus operators, outlines the service routes and decides the fares.

Because of this control and the poor services provided by the existing bus companies, Penangites are made to suffer.

"This is unacceptable and totally unfair to the people of Penang," Save Ourselves secretary Ong Boon Keong (photo) told malaysiakini.

He blamed the whole problem on the Gerakan-led state government's inability to demand for control over transport services.

Amalgamation of services

Ong claimed that the over-dependence of Chief Minister Dr Koh Tsu Koon and his Gerakan party on Umno for Malay votes was the main reason behind the state government's impotence.

But a state official pointed out that the state government is serious about improving the metropolitan transport system on the island and has started talks with the federal government to assume control over the service.

The state government is also planning to amalgamate the bus, taxi, ferry and the proposed monorail service under a single consortium to provide an efficient, reliable, cheap and fast transport service for commuters in the state.

However, the plan will only be realised if the federal government relinquishes its control on public transportation in the state.

Until then, Penangites will have to put up with the poor bus services or depend on private vehicles to move about.

ATHI VEERANGGAN is malaysiakini's Penang-based stringer.