Mindful Mariner: Forum to Improve Public Transport in Malaysia

Friday, 22 August 2008

Forum to Improve Public Transport in Malaysia

Pertubuhan untuk Penambahbaikan Pengangkutan Awam

Association For The Improvement of Mass Transit (TRANSIT)

PRESS STATEMENT

"The Association for the Improvement of Mass Transit – Klang Valley (TRANSIT), a newly-formed public transport advocacy group, will introduce themselves to the public and present a “wish list” for the 2009 Budget in front of the Pasar Seni LRT station at 10:00 am, Saturday, 23 August 2008. All are welcome.

The members of the group hope that their introduction, at one of the major public transport hubs in the Klang Valley, will raise the voice of the public transport passenger, a consumer and stakeholder in the public transport industry.

For too long, the voice of the consumer has not been organized or properly heard. There has been no opportunity for individuals to gain a powerful voice for their suggestions or specific attention to their complaints. The issues within the industry have affected passengers and operators alike – but the interests of the passengers have not been maintained.

Solutions for public transport have, in the past, been costly or ineffective or both. In many cases these solutions have been incomplete because they have not heard the voice of all stakeholders and they have not involved all stakeholders.

It is known that the 2009 Budget will be a “people friendly” budget with specific improvements to public transportation, among others. TRANSIT wishes to identify specific areas of improvement which can be done quickly within the Klang Valley.

The group hopes that the government will consider these suggestions on and above what is already in the 2009 Budget.

TRANSIT encourages all stakeholders, especially MPs, ADUNs, Local Councillors, and passengers to get involved in the process of improving public transport. We hope to lay the groundwork and help get public
transport back on track.

Who will be Attending

Members of the TRANSIT group, as well as advisors and supporting NGOs (FOMCA, BEAT-KL), members of the public.

Tour of Area (Photo Opportunity)

Following the introduction of the group and the presentation of the ‘wishlist’,

TRANSIT group members will lead public and interested parties on a tour of public transport services within the immediate area of Pasar Seni LRT station. Areas visited will include the Klang Bus Stand (Pasarama Kota), the “unofficial” Seremban bus stand (along Jalan Tun Sambantahn) and the bus stops at Bangkok Bank, Mydin (Sinar Kota) and Kota Raya. The area tour will finish at the Plaza Rakyat/Puduraya bus station. Along the way, members of TRANSIT will highlight specific areas of concern and suggestions for immediate improvement. Many photos can be taken along the way.

Backgrounder

The Association for the Improvement of Mass Transit / Pertubuhan untuk Penambahbaikan Pengangkutan Awam – Klang Valley (TRANSIT) was formed in July 2008 by a group of people who are interested in seeing improvements to public transportation. TRANSIT includes community advocates, public transport advocates, residents, and others who have a wealth of experience in Klang Valley public transport. We are supported by many Non-Governmental

Organizations including FOMCA, BEATKL, and the Bus User’s Group (among others). TRANSIT calls for simple, quick and effective improvements to public transportation before any other solutions.

We wish to become involved in developing improvements to public transportation that will put the interest and needs of Rakyat First.

Contact information

TRANSIT group members can be contacted in the following ways:

Website : www.transmy.org

Group email : transitmy@gmail.com

Mobile telephone numbers :

012-3767 080 Peter Sinniah – Spokesperson

019-2800 608 Muhammad Zulkarnain Hamzah – Spokesperson

012-2483 330 Moaz Yusuf Ahmad – Advisor

013-5900 339 Ong BK – Advisor

21st August 2008

Pertubuhan untuk Penambahbaikan Pengangkutan Awam