Is there any hope of a world-class public transport?
DAP National Deputy Chairman and MP for Kepong Dr Tan Seng Giaw calls on the Government to review the role and effectiveness of the Commercial Vehicle Licensing Board (CVLB).
What has it been doing in the efforts to make public transport efficient? How integrated has the transport been or will be?
Dr Tan made this call when he took part in the debate on the Supplementary Supply Bill in Parliament on 2 and 3 May, 2006.
The Government has expressed its desire to make the public trransport efficient in the past decades. For example, private companies such as Park May and Intrakota were formed to take over from family-owned bus companies that had been in operations for many years. Companies such as Tong Fong and Len Bus in Kuala Lumpur ceased to exist. In the Klang Valley, only Selangor Bus and Lian Seng remain, plying on limited routes. Despite the fanfare in the initial period, Park May and Intrakota failed miserably.
The Government has bailed out these companies including Putra and Star for the Light Rail Transport (LRT), pouring in billions of ringgits, over eight billion. It has formed such a company as Rapid KL to integrate buses, LRT, Monorail and Commuters. It creates Transport Fund, hoping to use the RM4 billion from the reduction of petroleum subsidy. World oil price has gone up further, to over US$70. There is no more saving from the reduction in subsidy. Where does the Government get the money for the fund?
What is the true part played by CVLB? Previous bus companies have failed. Can the public-funded Rapid KL survive without big subdidy?
The Entrepreneurs' Development and Cooperative Ministry scarcely gives additonal permits to private bus operators such as Selangor Bus that has existed for 60 years. Even diesel subsidy to deserving bus companies shows disparity with that given to fishermen. Subsidy of 15 sen per litre is given to private bus companies whereas RM1 per litre is given to fishermen.
What is CVLB attitude towards companies such as Selangor Bus and Lian Seng? Is it the intention of the Government to get rid of private bus companies?
While protecing the interest of the public, in particular the low-income group, there should be no wastage of public fund. Efficient private operators should be encouraged, not punished.
Let us review the role and the effectiveness of CVLB in the creation of world-class integrated public transport.
posted by Tan Seng Giaw @ 5/03/2006 07:22:00 PM
3 Comments:
Dear Sir,
I am a Malaysian, actively following the progress of of our country's Parliamentary mentality. I try to gather as many mainstream and alternative views as much as I can.
I am still without a party.
I have always wanted to write to you. I learned a few things from the late Tan Chee Koon. Through his biography, I learned that to be noble is to speak without fear or favor.
That has enlightened me to appreciate the efforts of DAP. More so, your personal efforts in keeping Kepong in great care.
Last year, I do occasionally see you driving your 4WD with the Party's flag. Seeing you with the flag is an inspiration. As we know, the opposition in our beloved country do not have a pinch of publicity. To be able to "announce" and share your Party like how you did, required a lot of courage and spirit. That is beyond commendable, its astounding!
I believe in check and balance. It is a necessity for an efficient execution of democracy. Thus I believe your Party is of significant relevance to the survival of our country.
Nevertheless, I have a concern. That has driven me to write to you. I hope my concerns are baseless.
Every inspiration must be coupled with action to encourage continuity. Action without inspiration is shortlived and inspiration without action is mere fantasy.
You are a man of great inspiration and outstanding actions. You walk the talk.
I have heard of efforts by the ruling coalition to dillute your voters by bringing in voters from other constituency, who are their supporters. At the last General Election, votes for your party were thinly won compared to your challenger.
Will this pose a threat for the next Election? I am most worried.
As it is the media is tightly controlled and the oppositions are confined.
Until today, it is a rare sight to see a Malay in DAP (i need to look very hard to see one).
In summary, I am worried that the Kepong constituency will be lost at the coming Election. I feel more needs to be done to reach out. Will be good if DAPSY can pull in more faces from the other races. If Keadilan can do it, why not DAP?
The positioning of DAP is ever more crucial now than ever. DAP needs to stop being reactive and become more proactive. DAP has been the shadow police of the government for a long time. DAP must come up with an alternative. DAP cannot continue being the check.
Instead of just "changing" or "checking", the party needs to send out the message to Malaysians that it is looking for candidates to "build" a better country.
It needs to be seen as formidable, reliable and vision-abled to bring the country forward.
Due to economical commitments, I am unable to fully participate in activities organised by DAP or being part of it. Nevertheless, I hope that someday, soon, I will be able to have the opportunity to make a difference to my country.
I have been to China and India. I don't feel Chinese and I don't feel Indian. I have been to Singapore.
All I can say is, I am a full bred, true blue Malaysian and it hurts me to see it going down the drain. The spirit of Merdeka is long gone and the ruling coalition is very ethnocentric.
DAP is relevant and you are definitely making a difference.
I salute you, sir!
regards,
Hopeful
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The last revamp of the bus services in KL was a big flop.
Instead of improving on existing tried and tested bus services by adding on additional routes to meet the demands of new housing estates, it involved take-overs of bus companies, new expensive buses and uniformed drivers. It was doomed from the start because all the big capex could not be recouped with low fares which are controlled by the government.
Furthermore, instead of tight control on finance and expenditure by family-owned companies, the lax or inadequate control by inexperienced personnel lead to loss of takings and of spare parts, and so on.
Like most cases, it was more form than substance and companies failed.
Before takeover, Park May was making Rm23million profits and what we have now is a struggling company with a low market price.
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