Opinion | KUALA LUMPUR- Beef up transport connectivity

James Chai

RECENTLY, Transport Minister Anthony Loke announced that RM50 million will be allocated this year to purchase vans to address first-and-last-mile connectivity issues.

This is indeed a right move, albeit, too little too late. As we know, Malaysia has spent billions to build infrastructure such as the MRT (Mass Rapid Transit), LRT (Light Rapid Transit) and KTM (Keretapi Tanah Melayu) commuter services, especially in the Klang Valley.

Unfortunately, many still shun public transport due to first-and-last-mile connectivity. Simply put, many commuters have problems reaching the main arteries of public transport, such as MRT stations, or reaching their final destinations after they disembark from the trains.

This is due to poor feeder bus services, which can be irregular, especially during peak hours. Moreover, feeder bus services serve only limited areas.

This is why some property developers link up their projects with the main arteries of the public transport system. Some erect connecting bridges to train stations from the apartments they build. Others provide feeder bus services to train stations only to those who live in their projects.

Another example is how a property developer recently tied up with an e-hailing bus/van provider, Kumpool, to ease the travel between its project and the surrounding train networks and vice versa.

The project, “edumetro”, in Subang is a mixed development project involving residential, commercial as well as a popular college. The convenience afforded by the tie-up allows for speedy and affordable commutes, compared with ride-hailing services, which are more costly.

This is an innovative solution for those who frequent the area, such as students and workers, besides those who live there.

Be that as it may, innovative developers can only do so much as services such as Kumpool operate only in selected areas now.

The RM50 million allocated to address the first-and-last-mile transport woes is only a tiny drop in the ocean to overcome this problem.

The government needs to urgently spend more on this project and expand the coverage to as many places as possible. Only then, can Malaysians, especially those living in the Klang Valley turn to public transport as a viable option.