SHAH ALAM, June 17 — The one-month-long free rides offered on all public transport services operated by RapidKL and KTM Komuter in the Klang Valley beginning yesterday will not resolve the transportation system’s inefficient operation issues.
Instead, the Federal government should be listening to the complaints from users who have been facing multiple problems since last month, especially for the Light Rail Transit (LRT) Kelana Jaya line service.
State executive councillor for public transportation Ng Sze Hang said the RM155 million Federal allocation for the fare subsidies should instead be used to repair trains as well as for stations’ escalators and other equipment which experience constant breakdowns.
“Providing free rides such as what was announced yesterday is not a solution but a populist act to divert attention to the real issues.
“In my opinion, public transport users can still afford to use the My50 unlimited travel pass to cover their monthly fares,” he said in a statement today.
Ng also expressed disappointment at a previous statement by the Transport Ministry which said the frequency of the LRT service has been reduced due to damages to the carriages, which subsequently reduced its capacity to accommodate a large number of users.
“Even if these trains require upgrades or maintenance, it should not be done simultaneously in large numbers, to the point of affecting the number of trains that are operational,” he said.
Previously, the LRT service was reported to be congested during the morning rush hour, angering passengers as it caused them to be late for work.
Yesterday, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob announced free rides for a month on all public transport operated by RapidKL and KTM Komuter in the Klang Valley.
