13MP to enhance first and last-mile mobility
The Prime Minister said this will involve the addition of 300 demand-responsive transit vans and 1,200 buses to enhance public transportation links within urban areas.
'There will also be an additional 217 passenger train sets to improve the frequency of train services,' he said when tabling the 13MP in the Dewan Rakyat yesterday.
Anwar said that the construction and upgrading of 2,800km of rural roads is anticipated to enhance connectivity.
This includes the main road from Nanga Serau to Nanga Seranau in Kapit, Sarawak; the road from the Sungai Air Tawar bridge to Hutan Melintang in Bagan Datuk, Perak; and the Pos Sinderut road in Lipis, Pahang.
Large-scale infrastructure development will continue as part of efforts to enhance connectivity and stimulate economic growth.
These projects include the East Coast Rail Link, which connects Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang and the west coast of the peninsula; the Gemas-Johor Baru double track; the elevated autonomous rapid transit system in Iskandar Malaysia, Johor; and the LRT Mutiara Line project in Penang.
'These initiatives also speed up the transit-oriented development, combining transport elements with housing, commerce and public service counters,' he said.
Anwar also said there will be upgrades to existing routes. This includes the Senai Utara-Machap route in Johor and the Juru-Sungai Dua route in Penang, both of which are located along the PLUS Malaysia Berhad Highway.
Also in focus is the construction of the Lingkaran Tengah Utama Expressway, the Pan Borneo Highway in Sabah and the Trans Borneo Highway in Sarawak.
The Prime Minister said the road-to-rail initiative, aiming to shift a large portion of cargo off roads, will increase rail usage from 6% to 13%.
'This will reduce the risk of road accidents,' he said.
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