I was interested to read the comments by Deputy Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak regarding the Federal Territory Ministry retreat to find ways to improve the public transport system. Najib commented that it was time to find an integrated solution to traffic woes in Kuala Lumpur and the Klang Valley.

Unfortunately, the comments and ideas that came out of this retreat reflect the lack of integrated planning that is affecting public transport in the Klang Valley and in Malaysia as a whole. It is this lack of integration that is creating the problems that exist in our public transportation system today.

It is time for everyone to understand that the issue is not with the transport operators, rather, it is with the government and the way it organises public transportation in this country.

Look at the retreat itself. The transportation problems of the Klang Valley stretch beyond the borders of the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur. Yet, instead of bringing together stakeholders from throughout the Klang Valley, the retreat was for the Federal Territory Ministry only. How can the retreat come up with an integrated transport plan for the Klang Valley when other parts of the Klang Valley are not included?

It is clear that the government does not view public transportation as a whole system. Instead, the different components of the system are treated as isolated pieces. Government stakeholders from the Klang Valley do not attend retreats to plan an integrated master plan. Nine different government agencies are responsible for planning and regulating public transportation. The Commercial Vehicles Licensing Board (part of the Ministry of Entrepreneur and Cooperatives Development) is responsible for buses, but treats city buses the same way as school buses, factory buses, and delivery trucks.

The Economic Planning Unit (part of the Prime Minister’s Department) is responsible for planning the railway networks but treats them as separate from the bus network. And as shown at the recent briefing on the Selangor 2020 Plan and Subang Jaya Draft Plan, the federal government and state governments have very different ideas on public transportation, and they are not communicating properly with each other.

I could go on and list many more of the problems that exist within the government, but what would it accomplish? The point is that change in public transportation will only start with change from the top.

The top refers to the Cabinet Committee on Public Transportation. It is time that this committee started taking action and improving the public transport system in Malaysia by making changes to the way public transportation is organized and regulated.

It is clear that with oil prices increasing and petrol prices set to increase, that Malaysia needs to start improving public transportation immediately. We need solutions today, not two or three years down the road.

Now, I was not at the retreat as I am a private citizen and I was not invited. However, I hope that the government will accept my humble suggestions and implement them as soon as possible. I am ready and willing to help.

Create new department

If the government wants to demonstrate a commitment to public transportation, then it must create a National Public Transportation Department. This department would report directly to the Cabinet Committee on Public Transportation. The goal of the National Public Transportation Department would be to implement the National Public Transportation Strategy as outlined in the National Physical Plan.

The National Public Transportation Department would then create Local Public Transportation Authorities, which would bring together stakeholders from different areas such as State Assemblymen, Members of Parliament, Transport Operators, and local residents. It would be preferred that the government be represented by elected representatives, because they hold great interest in getting things done properly so they can get reelected.

The Local Authorities would plan and improve public transportation in a strategic way, focusing on current and future needs. They would look at integrating public transportation on a regional and local level, beyond municipal borders.

The existing system, as I have stated before, focuses on isolation. Buses are isolated from trains, governments and stakeholders are isolated from each other. With isolation comes confusion and nothing can be done. Therefore, the existing system has to go.

The Local Authority would accomplish this by creating a system that works. Instead of individual bus companies with individual drivers, operating in isolation, there would be one regional authority that would make plans for routes, set fares, and expand and improve service.

All existing routes and permits would be canceled. Instead, the various bus companies would have the opportunity to compete to offer service on these new routes.

Focus on mobility

The government needs to realize that it has to make people feel that using public transportation will give them mobility. Under this new system, the focus would be on integrated, improved service, increasing the mobility of the passengers, rather than increasing the profits of individual bus companies. It is vitally important that the government focus on increasing the area covered by the public transportation network. Only with a complete network can mobility be improved.

The public transportation network should be as complete as the expressway network. This does not mean that the government should extend a few LRT lines. What is meant is that the government needs to fill in the missing gaps in the existing network. Currently the government is focusing on filling in the missing links in the expressway network. What about the missing links in the public transportation network?

Kuala Lumpur needs at least 3 more rapid transit lines, as well as expanded service on the existing LRT and KTM lines. The government should focus on building these rapid transit lines in urban areas first, and then extend them out to the suburbs as needed. Until then, the suburbs should be serviced by a system of Bus Rapid Transit and express buses using exclusive bus lanes.

It is time that we stop being afraid of bus lanes. If we are serious about improving public transportation and increasing the use of public transportation, then bus lanes are absolutely necessary.

Love of technology

Malaysians are in love with technology, and sometimes this can create problems for us. Consider the current love of the LRT technology. The LRT is elevated, fast, and beautiful, but it is also costly.

The government has to focus on increasing mobility. Instead of one line, it must build twenty. The government knows that it does not have the money to build 20 LRT lines. That is why we must be willing to consider the possibility of other, less costly forms of rapid transit like Bus Rapid Transit and Rapid Trams.

It is time to be realistic. With the same amount of money (approximately RM200 million) to build 1km of LRT line, we can build 4-5km of Rapid Tram line, or 10-15 km of Bus Rapid Transit. Instead of a single line serving a few people, we can build more lines serving more people. Think of the increase to your mobility!

Malaysians must give up their love for sexy LRT technology and settle for something more stable, reliable, and dependable.

Lastly, the government must realise that the people need to be included in any planning of public transportation and integrated networks. Ultimately, the people will speak for the success or failure of public transportation. They must be included in the planning.

MOAZ YUSUF AHMAD, a regular user of public transport, is deeply concerned that government plans to encourage the use of public transport will ultimately fail because of poor planning and lack of support from the public.