Published: Thursday July 19, 2012 MYT 9:54:00 PM

Move to improve bus transport industry

PUTRAJAYA: Efforts are being made to improve the bus transportation industry, including increasing budget allocations for next year, Deputy Finance Minister Datuk Donald Lim Siang Chai said.

He added industry players were concerned about the low wages paid to bus drivers, which had affected the efficiency of the public bus services.

“The Government will support projects to put in place a more efficient transportation system, including providing more feeder buses to improve the connectivity of the country's overall public transportation system.

“There is a shortage of bus drivers and we hope that they will receive better pay as some of them are only paid at about RM1,000 per month.

“We hope to achieve the Urban Planning Department's 2020 target to get at least 30% of the population to use public transport,” he told a press conference at the ministry here on Thursday.

Earlier, Lim chaired a three-hour focus group meeting with public transportation stakeholders from the public and private sector to discuss their expectations for the Budget 2013.

Among those who attended the meeting were 60 representatives from 27 agencies, including the Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD), Transport Ministry, Syarikat Prasarana Negara Bhd, SME Bank, the Malaysian Highway Authority and consumer groups.

Lim also said the disabled community has also raised their concerns that there was a lack of disabled-friendly public transportation facilities.

“We have also advised SPAD to work together with the local authority in the planning or execution of their work to help them understand the concerns of the local community, including the disabled,” he added.

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