GEORGE TOWN, Nov 2 ― Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng announced today a RM15 million allocation for the state public transport sector.
The money will go towards free bus rides during morning and afternoon peak hours on all bus routes statewide, in a move to encourage more people to use the public buses in Penang.
“We will also work with Rapid Penang to expand the service networks, revamp some of the routes to make bus journeys faster, more frequent and more reliable and to put more buses on the road,” he said while tabling the state budget 2018 in the state legislative assembly here.
He said the state wants a win-win relationship with Rapid Penang and the expanded free bus programme will increase ridership, revenues and ancillary business opportunities for Rapid Penang,
“At the same time, Rapid Penang must help Penang by bringing in more new buses on the road and improve service reliability, hopefully they can commit to add on 200 new buses,” he said.
To date, Lim said the state government and the Penang Island City Council (MBPP) has spent RM21 million since 2008 to provide free bus services, known as CAT, in the George Town area and subsidised the Penang Bridge for those working in Bayan Lepas Free Trade Zone.
“MBPP will be increasing the number of free CAT buses from three to five free buses in 2018, with the cost increasing from RM 666,000 to RM1.1 million yearly,” he said.
He announced the establishment of a new planning authority called “Transport Penang” which will be comprised of transport planners, modellers and experts.
The authority or unit will report to the Penang Transport Council headed by Penang state executive committee member Chow Kon Yeow.
