By Selangor Journal Team
SHAH ALAM, May 27 — Asia Mobiliti Technologies Sdn Bhd has defended its appointment as one of Selangor's two demand-responsive transit (DRT) service operators, following criticisms by certain quarters surrounding the selection process.
In a statement, the transport startup firm that operates Trek Rides noted that it is only one of two companies in the country qualified to provide the service — the other being Badan Bas Coach Sdn Bhd, which operates Mobi.
While it regularly bids for tenders like any competitive business, an open tender of a “highly specialised new service” would have resulted in a monopolistic situation.
As such, Asia Mobiliti said this was why both companies were offered to take up the project instead of just one.
“(An open tender) would have stifled competitiveness and robbed the opportunity for the state to pilot the service in a real-world setting and assess the performance of the service providers over a reasonable period.
“It must be noted that the appointment is only for a period of nine months and required extensive investment from both service providers in terms of procuring vehicles, hiring drivers, continuous optimisation, and development of the technology that powered the service.
“The state received the best value for its investment and provided the opportunity for two companies to prove themselves and design a new service for the state, which is arguably the first of its kind state-programme anywhere in Southeast Asia,” it said.
Asia Mobiliti’s statement comes in light of recent accusations that it was appointed to operate the DRT service in Selangor without going through an open tender because one of its founders is the spouse of a Federal Cabinet member.
In response, the firm lambasted the critics and described the recent accusations as an unsubstantiated attack against a Malaysian technology startup.
“Being a highly transparent and ethical business, which is an extension of the personal values of our co-founders, we abhor collusion and anti-competitive practices by any party, especially government agencies and corporates,” it said.
[caption id="attachment_316207" align="aligncenter" width="944"]
Demand-responsive transit (DRT) van service Mobi in SS15, Subang Jaya, on June 21, 2023. — Picture by NUR ADIBAH AHMAD IZAM/SELANGORKINI[/caption]
First licensed DRT operator
Asia Mobiliti also noted that as the pioneers of DRT in Malaysia, the company had conducted a private pilot of the service in September 2021 in Petaling Jaya for relevant stakeholders and clients.
“Following its success and the validation of use, we were the first to be licensed by the Land Public Transport Agency (Apad) to operate a bus-on-demand service in December 2022 and remain the only company with a made-in-Malaysia system, designed and developed by our engineering and technology team,” it said.
Subsequently, Asia Mobiliti was appointed as one of two DRT service providers for the Selangor Mobility programme, which was announced at a public forum organised by the state government on June 15 last year. A statement to that effect was also released by the company at the time.
“The success of the Selangor Mobility programme has also led to Prasarana and the Transport Ministry announcing the adoption of DRT as a replacement for conventional feeder bus services, with RapidKL running a very successful pilot in May 2023 with Trek Rides in UM-Bangsar South, which we continue to operate independently,” it said.
Today, the company is on track to achieve a record high of 14,000 monthly ridership in May across the five zones it operates in, including the four under Selangor Mobility — Ampang, Hulu Kelang, Puchong, and UPM-Serdang.
Meanwhile, Badan Bas operates its DRT service in Subang Jaya, Petaling Jaya Utara, Petaling Jaya Selatan, and Sungai Buloh.
On Friday (May 24), state executive councillor for investment, trade, and mobility Ng Sze Han said Asia Mobiliti was appointed as a DRT service provider after a stringent process that included approval from Apad and based on its experience in implementing the proof-of-concept (POC) for the project.
He said Asia Mobiliti and Badan Bas received POC approval from Apad on December 22, 2022, and February 24, 2023, respectively.
[caption id="attachment_316118" align="aligncenter" width="901"]
State executive councillor for public transportation Ng Sze Han (left), accompanied by Badanbas Coach Sdn Bhd chief executive officer Ibrahim Aiman Mohd Nadzmi (right), trying out the Mobi demand-responsive transit (DRT) service at the SS15 LRT station, on June 21, 2023. Picture by NUR ADIBAH AHMAD IZAM/SELANGORKINI[/caption]
