KUALA LUMPUR: Prasarana Malaysia Bhd is optimistic of the Government achieving the 40% public transportation modal share target by 2030.
President/group chief executive officer Datuk Seri Azmi Abdul Aziz said Malaysia’s rail-based ridership modal share, currently at 25%, would increase when the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) Sungai Buloh-Kajang (SBK) phase one service began operating on Aug 1.
“To achieve the 40% target, it would require the integration of public transport, such as the MRT, Light Rail Transit (LRT) and monorail routes, including the relevant connectivity, according to the Land Public Transport Commission’s (SPAD) master plan,” he told a press conference after attending the Prasarana Employee Appreciation and Recognition for Life event in Kuala Lumpur on Monday.
At the event, Prasarana presented certificates and tokens of appreciation to 113 of its staff who had performed exemplary and outstanding public services.
Malaysia’s public transport transformation began with the establishment of SPAD back in 2010, with the aim of implementing an efficient public transportation system in this country.
The 40% target was set by the National Land Public Transport Master Plan in October 2013, which envisaged a “safe, reliable, efficient, responsive, accessible, planned, integrated, affordable and sustainable land public transport system to enhance socio-economic development and quality of life”.
Meanwhile, on MMC Corp Bhd’s recent decision to hand over the loss-making ferry operations linking Penang island and Butterworth to Prasarana, Azmi said, although it was entering unfamiliar marine territory, its still fell under the public transport category.
“It’s about giving the best to the people. The mode of business will still be about the same, and we may be maintaining the same crew for operations,” he added. - Bernama