KUALA LUMPUR, July 14 ― Malaysia’s move to improve its public transportation system is laudable, but its policymakers need to pay more attention to details to ensure the infrastructure is top-class and serves the masses effectively, federal lawmaker Ong Kian Ming said today.

The Serdang MP related his recent rail experiment in the Klang Valley and discovered the networks were not integrated, reliable or even cheap to use, especially when compared to neighbouring Singapore’s mass transportation system.

Ong who tested out the Light Rail Transit (LRT) to the elevated Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Sunway Line and Keretapi Tanah Melayu (KTM) Komuter trains said his return trip from Awan Besar to USJ and Setia Jaya to KL Sentral cost an exorbitant amount of money and that it would hurt the lower income earners if they were to frequent the route daily.

“Let’s say I wanted to take the train from Awan Besar to the end of the Kelana Jaya line which is Gombak...a one-way trip would cost me RM5.70 for a cashless trip (RM6.70 for a cash token).

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“While this is still cheaper than driving and parking, it would be a burden for a minimum wage earner to spend RM11.40 per day or RM250 per month just on public transportation,” Ong said in a statement.

In comparison, Singapore’s Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) is free on weekdays for those travelling before 7.45am and that a trip from that covered a distance of 42.6km only costs SG$2.03 (RM5.96), the DAP lawmaker said.

While lauding the country's public transport integration for having some improvements in recent years, Ong said more can be done, adding that the fare should also be integrated.

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The elevated Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) fares. ― Picture by Ong Kian Ming
The elevated Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) fares. ― Picture by Ong Kian Ming

“Right now, if we take a bus to the LRT station followed by an LRT train followed by a BRT bus, we will be charged three fares for a single journey.

“An integrated public transportation system will charge us one single fare for that journey. This will increase the affordability of our public transportation system significantly,” he said.

Ong claimed that when he approached the manual ticketing counter, no one was manning it. ― Picture by Ong Kian Ming
Ong claimed that when he approached the manual ticketing counter, no one was manning it. ― Picture by Ong Kian Ming

Ong also claimed that he encountered a broken automatic ticketing machine when he was at the Setia Jaya KTM station and that another machine was undergoing maintenance.

When he approached the manual ticketing counter, no one was manning it, he alleged.

He then complained that station indicators in trains for new stations on the Kelana Jaya and Ampang extensions were not functioning and that there were also no announcements to inform passengers of the upcoming stations.

“When I took the LRT from Masjid Jamek to Awan Besar, there were also no announcements notifying commuters that we had to change trains at Sri Petaling to get to Awan Besar,” he said.

Ong, who said he did not ride on feeder buses during his trip on the eve of the Raya break, added that he had to wait 45 minutes for the next KTM train when he missed one at the Setia Jaya station.

After his experience, the MP then called on the relevant federal ministers to also test out the rails personally.

He urged them not to take an entourage and pay for their own tickets to experience the daily travails of an ordinary commuter.