What does someone who is chauffeured around in a luxury car know about the woes of the average commuter?
This question was posed to Land Public Transport Commission (LPTC) chairman Tan Sri Syed Hamid Albar today, who replied: "I use public transport once in a while."
Syed Hamid was quizzed by this reporter on the observation that many of those overseeing public transport were unaware of the realities of public transport as they themselves relied on chauffeur-driven transport.
"If you build schools, it doesn't mean you go to the school you built. But it is important for us to try the service so that we have a better feel of it. When we get back, we get the feedback from people and we know the wishes of the people," he said after launching the KLIA Express VIP Service at KL Sentral here.
However, Syed Hamid insists he is getting enough of the feel of the average commuter who faces delayed and crammed trains and buses, overcharging cabbies and lack of connectivity.
"I use public transport once in a while ... taxis and others. This is the reason why we need to improve public transport. From my place, there is no connectivity. The interconnectedness of public transport must be improved. It must be more efficient," said Syed Hamid, who had spoken earlier of his experiences travelling by train from Kuala Lumpur to Johor.
Asked when he took the trip he spoke of, Syed Hamid said he took it "30 years ago".
Fantastic. Isn't it wonderful that someone who took public transport THIRTY YEARS AGO is now the Chairman of Land Public Transport Commission (LPTC)?
God bless Tan Sri for his HONESTY!!!
So what will happen to our public transport system? This is what he said in the report:
1. We are taking action in preparing towards the coming into force all the ancillary acts that will allow us to play a regulatory role and absorb government units. At present, LPTC's powers come from the Public Land Transport Commission Act.
2. We cannot enforce certain things such as investigations and giving operators certain licences, but, we are working very closely with the relevant departments such as the Railways Department and the licencing boards.
3. On the proposed Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) system, which carries an estimated RM40 billion price tag, he said this is an indicative cost and that the bulk of the infrastructure costs have to be borne by the government.
"So the government has to think of its own financing. When you talk about the ERL, you are talking about private companies. Even Prasarana is a company incorporated under the Companies Act, they have their own budget and their own financing," he said.
"It is different with the MRT as the government has to get the funding approved. There are various mechanisms to reduce cost. When the whole plan is out and when the public knows exactly where we are going to get the money, it will be easier to discuss."
Whatever the case, the government has a moral responsibility to ensure a good public transportation system for ALL. Perhaps Ministers, elected representatives and officers of NGOs related to this area should take public transport MORE often rather than once in a few decades!
Perhaps then, they can empathize with what people have to tolerate under such circumstances.
Anonymous What does that balding "Yemeni" know about hardship and day to day struggle of the Rakyat?