Category: News

March 12, 2007 17:07 PM

Public Transportation Masterplan Ready In 9 Months

PUTRAJAYA, March 12 (Bernama) — The government’s public transportation system masterplan is expected to be ready in nine months, Transport Minister Datuk Seri Chan Kong Choy said.

He said the masterplan for the capital cities would ensure a more coordinated and well planned public transportation system for the country.

“The government has made a decision to come out with the masterplan of public transportation system in all the capital cities of the country, from Kangar all the way to Kota Kinabalu,” he told reporters after meeting representatives from the disabled people organisations, services providers and public transportation operators.

He said the decision to come out with the masterplan was made by the Cabinet committee on public transportation a few months ago.

“We are in the midst of appointing a consultant to carry out the works,” he said.

He said the masterplan would also include the needs of the disabled people.

— BERNAMA

Master plan to help disabled move about13 Mar 2007

PUTRAJAYA: The disabled will not be left out when each state capital receives its public transport master plan by the end of the year.

Facilities and access for the disabled will form an important part of the brief that will be given to the consultant appointed to study the public transport systems of the state capitals.

The consultant will be given nine months to complete a report, which will be submitted to the Cabinet.

“There will be a master plan for all capital cities nationwide. We want well-planned and co-ordinated transport systems to meet the needs of disabled people,” Transport Minister Datuk Seri Chan Kong Choy said yesterday.

The Barrier-free Environment and Accessible Transport (BEAT), a coalition of 16 organisations for the disabled, cheered the announcement.

Their representatives had met with Chan and presented a memorandum with proposals for improvements to public transportation.

Chan also announced the formation of a new committee to address the public transportation needs of disabled people. It will be headed by the deputy secretary-general of Transport (Planning) Long See Wool.

Representatives from various ministries and agencies such as Kuala Lumpur City Hall, the Commercial Vehicle Licensing Board, public transport operators and BEAT will sit on the committee.

The president of the Damai Disabled Persons Association of Selangor and the Federal Territory, V. Murugeswaran, said BEAT’s meeting with Chan and the new committee was a long-awaited answer to the pleas of disabled people.

Tuesday March 13, 2007

Disabled to get say in transport policy

By SIM LEOI LEOI

PUTRAJAYA: Disabled groups will get their say in public transport policy, with the setting up of a government committee to look into their grouses.

Transport Minister Datuk Seri Chan Kong Choy said the committee, chaired by deputy secretary-general (planning) Long See Wool, would also have representatives from agencies such as Malaysia Airlines, RapidKL, KTM Bhd, City Hall and the Commercial Vehicle Licensing Board.

“Previously, when disabled groups had grouses, they had to personally convey them to the different firms involved.

“With this committee, they will have a platform to allow them a voice and an exchange of views on all public transport planning, without them having to go to the individual companies. This is a better way for them to tackle these issues,” he told reporters after receiving a memorandum from members of the Barrier-Free Environment and Accessible Transport Group (Beat) at his office here yesterday.

Beat is an alliance of 16 disabled groups in the country.

The committee, said Chan, would discuss ways to make the public transport system more disabled-friendly as well as future plans.

“It will also recommend how transport companies can improve their services. We are mindful that the disabled need to have access to public transport to commute,” he said.

Chan said the groups had also requested for their needs and interests to be included in the public transport masterplan for cities, which had been commissioned by the Cabinet committee on public transportation.

“We are in the midst of appointing a consultant to come up with the masterplan and in our terms of reference, we have mentioned for the needs of the disabled to be taken into consideration.

“Having disabled-friendly access to public transport will not only benefit the targeted group but senior citizens as well,” Chan said, adding that once the consultant had been appointed, the masterplan should be ready within nine months.

Beat assistant coordinator V. Murugeswaran said he was happy with the decision.

“We have been waiting for such a committee as we need a forum to voice our views,” he said, adding that the group would continue to fight for more access to public transport, particularly on buses operated by RapidKL, which currently only served trunk roads.