EXPANDING URBAN PUBLIC TRANSPORT NETWORK

IN THE BUDGET 2013, the Prime Minister Datuk Najib Bin Tun Razak announced that an efficient public transport system is crucial for development of the community. Following the implementation of RapidKL and RapidPenang, the government will launch PapidKuantan on the 1st of December 2012 to provide high quality bus transport in Kuantan, which will benefit benefit the rakyat. Additionally the Syarikat Prasarana Negara is in the progress of expanding its services to other locations such as Ipoh, Kuching and Kota Kinabalu.

The KK MP Hiew King Cheu said that the question is how soon can this be implemented in Kota Kinabalu? The present public transport system in Kota Kinabalu is in no way near sufficient, and is not providing the full coverage for the convenience of the commuters. Many areas don’t even have the bus routes and services in the city, and it is highly disorganized. The good example is along the Lintas Highway, Tuaran By-pass and the sub urban areas.

The chance of Kota Kinabalu City getting the RapidKK bus service is very remote, and this shows the federal government has regretted Sabah once again. If in Kuala Lumpur can be given free bus ride why can’t they give KK City the same as provided by the Federal government. This will solve a great deal on the traffic congestion problems in KK City by having much lesser cars coming into the city centre.

The South Bus terminal in Kapayan should be given top priority to be constructed and get into service as soon as possible. The KK MP Hiew King Cheu said there is no need to construct big buildings and complex, but some simple structure will do fine. The ground has been cleared and it is only to be paved and to install some temporary sheds and toilets, this should be able to get the South Bus Terminal into functioning.

Once the South Bus Terminal is in operation, the many big buses from the south can stop over there without having to go into the city centre. The traffic jam situation in the City centre can further be improved. The Federal government had promised RM50 million for the construction of the South Bus Terminal, but where is the money now and why the work did not start, another “Janji Ditepati” that has not been fulfilled?

The KK Wawasan Bus terminal site will face another closed down due to future development, and to replace the bus-terminal will be a passenger drop-off and pick-up bus stand served by a foot bridge linking to the Wawasan Complex. There will be no space for the mini buses to park for waiting for passengers. This will aggravate the flow and number of buses plying on the road every day. A better solution should be sorted out to counter this problem by DBKK, JKR, Police and the Transport Ministry.