PETALING JAYA, May 16 — Prasarana Malaysia Bhd is optimistic about achieving a 40 per cent target of public transport usage in the country by 2030, in line with ongoing efforts to enhance existing facilities and services.
Its president cum group chief executive officer Mohd Azharuddin Mat Sah said that with government support, his team is implementing strategic planning to increase the number of users (ridership) from 1.3 million this year to 1.5 million next year.
"Among the main initiatives are the addition of the LRT 3 (Shah Alam route) which is expected to be operational by the end of this year, the addition of dedicated bus lanes, and collaboration with the Ministry of Housing and Local Government (KPKT) to improve pedestrian pathways to bus and LRT stations," he said.
Azharuddin was speaking at a press conference after signing a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the United Nations Global Compact Network Malaysia and Brunei (UNGCMYB), represented by its executive director Faroze Nadar, today.
He added that Prasarana also plans to expand the Rapid KL On-Demand service, which is becoming increasingly popular among Klang Valley residents, and to increase the number of electric buses as part of the sustainable mobility agenda.
“Dedicated bus lanes are also very important because they allow buses to increase their frequency and provide faster journeys for passengers," Azharuddin said.
He is confident that this systematic and comprehensive approach can contribute towards achieving the 40 per cent target of public transportation usage by 2023.
Previously, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi revealed that the public transportation usage rate in Malaysia is still low at around 25 per cent, far behind developed countries like Singapore (67 per cent), Seoul in South Korea (63 per cent), and Tokyo in Japan (73 per cent).
He emphasised that an efficient public transportation system not only facilitates people's daily movement but also acts as a catalyst for economic growth, social well-being, and inclusive mobility in both urban and rural areas.
Meanwhile, Azharuddin said that he met with Zahid recently, and the urgent need to add dedicated lanes for the bus service was among the matters discussed.
— Bernama
