Latest news with #MyMobilityVision
Free Malaysia Today
03-08-2025
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
More buses not enough without proper city planning, says expert
The government has announced plans to add 300 on-demand vans and 1,200 buses in major cities but transport experts call for coordination with local councils. (Bernama pic) PETALING JAYA : Providing more buses and on-demand vans does not instantly mean better mobility for the public, unless it comes with a coordinated system and proper city planning, says a transport expert. Transport consultant Wan Agyl Wan Hassan of My Mobility Vision said the absence of a working and efficient ecosystem would still hinder results. He pointed to the need for better local planning and called for local governments to be roped in from the onset whenever the federal government plans public transport networks. 'A bus, no matter how modern or efficient, cannot deliver results if it's stuck in the same traffic as everyone else. A van-on-demand service won't solve mobility issues if it's not connected to local travel patterns or coordinated with other modes. 'People can't walk to a bus stop if the footpath is cracked, shaded by nothing, or ends without warning. Mobility is not just about vehicles, it's about the entire journey. 'And that journey is shaped by how we plan our streets, manage our space, and design our cities,' he told FMT. Wan Agyl, a former official of the Land Public Transport Commission (now known as the Land Public Transport Agency), said local governments decide on road designs, location of bus stops, and the construction of shaded footpaths or shelters. Many local plans still give priority to car access over walkability, with spaces allocated for parking spots but not for pedestrian paths. 'Buses are essential. So are vans. But they must operate within a coordinated ecosystem. They need lanes that protect them from congestion. They need pedestrian networks that allow people to reach them without risk. And they need to be planned in consultation with the people who govern the streets, not in isolation from them.' Separate bus lanes Fellow transport consultant Rosli Khan also called for segregated bus lanes that are either physically separated by barriers or strictly enforced, instead of just being mere painted lanes, so as to prevent misuse. He said the government could start introducing this in Kuala Lumpur, followed by Penang, Johor Bahru and other state capitals, adding that a pilot could first be done in the capital city's major roads. Rosli also said it was important to increase the proportion of routes that offer 15-minute intervals even during peak hours in order to make travelling by bus more appealing. 'The government should integrate journey‑planner tools and ensure apps like Google Maps accurately show timings and reliability of bus services,' he said. Under the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP), the government plans to add 300 on-demand vans and 1,200 buses in major cities to make public transport more reliable and accessible for commuters, and 217 new passenger train sets to increase service frequency. Other major cities Rosli asked what initiatives would be undertaken in other major cities and state capitals, which do not have mass transit systems. 'So buses will be their main public transit mode. Is this (13MP) budget targeting only the Klang Valley then? Other state capitals which have long been neglected include Kota Kinabalu, Kuantan, Ipoh, Melaka, Kota Bharu and Kuala Terengganu. Where are the allocations for these cities?' he said. Wan Agyl said the government should form a council to coordinate mobility planning involving federal, state and local council officials to co-design routes, infrastructure and land use policies. 'Federal public transport funding could be made conditional upon local plan revisions that support transit-oriented development. This would create an incentive for cities to align with national goals and create neighbourhoods where walking, cycling, and transit become the default, not the exception.' He said some MRT stations were already underused because of a lack of surrounding footpaths or feeder access, because the last 500m to the station had been poorly planned. 'If we're not careful, the same story could repeat itself despite having 1,200 new buses, with it being a great promise, but having weak execution.'
Free Malaysia Today
29-06-2025
- Business
- Free Malaysia Today
DBKL aims for 70% of residents to use public transport by 2040
The Kuala Lumpur Local Plan has a strong focus on the city's public transport network, said mayor Maimunah Sharif. KUALA LUMPUR : The Kuala Lumpur Local Plan (PTKL) aims for 70% of the public to be using public transport by 2040, says city mayor Maimunah Sharif. This is in conjunction with PTKL 2040's primary goal of shaping Kuala Lumpur into an all-inclusive 'green' city. In particular, DBKL aims to implement an efficient, low-carbon mobility system city-wide. With 191 initiatives outlined in the plan, PTKL's 'City for All' theme places a heavy focus on sustainability, with the development and maintenance of green spaces a key concept in its spatial planning. During a press briefing, Maimunah said DBKL might provide incentives to increase population density around transit zones where LRT or MRT stations are located. 'This is common in Japan, where people work, live, and play around transit zones. This helps lessen congestion and steers us in the direction of a low-carbon city,' she said. Much of PTKL 2040's zoning revolves around coordinating with the framework of Kuala Lumpur's railway systems, especially the upcoming MRT3 network. PTKL aims to create a transport network that allows the public to go from place to place with a walking distance of less than 400m. There have been various public concerns regarding the accessibility of Kuala Lumpur's public transport system in recent years. Transport think tank My Mobility Vision identified first- and last-mile connectivity as one of the primary issues steering the public towards private vehicle use. Last month, deputy prime minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the use of public transport in Malaysia was still low at around 25%. Zahid suggested that this could be improved with a shift in user attitudes through a combination of reliable public transport systems and comprehensive awareness campaigns.
Free Malaysia Today
28-06-2025
- Automotive
- Free Malaysia Today
Structural reset needed to end crashes plaguing bus industry, says expert
Wan Agyl Wan Hassan says the frequency of bus crashes demands more than just a short-term fix. (Bernama pic) PETALING JAYA : Malaysia's bus industry is in urgent need of structural reform to curb the number of fatal crashes plaguing the sector, according to transport consultant Wan Agyl Wan Hassan. Earlier this week, Utusan Malaysia reported that more than 203 bus-related accidents were recorded in the country between January 2023 and May this year, resulting in 39 deaths, 68 serious injuries, and 197 minor injuries. Wan Agyl, founder of transport think tank My Mobility Vision, said those statistics showed the country's road safety record was a 'national failure'. 'It demands more than a short-term fix,' he added. Wan Agyl Wan Hassan. He said the accidents, though varied in their specific causes, were ultimately the result of a transport system under severe stress from cost and manpower pressures, as well as regulatory blind spots. 'On one hand, there's growing demand; more people travelling, more school trips, more factory charters. 'On the other hand, there's a severe shortage of trained and full-time drivers, and margins so thin that operators are forced to take risks just to keep their businesses alive,' he told FMT. Police have attributed the crashes to speeding, poor vehicle maintenance, mechanical failures, and pressure exerted on drivers by bus operators. Yusri said driver error was the main factor behind these accidents, adding that many of them were fatigued from driving for too long without rest, while others had little experience operating buses or were under the influence of alcohol and drugs. Wan Agyl called for a nationwide employment framework for drivers that ensured fair pay, regulated hours and career stability. He said bus drivers are typically hired on 'loose' contracts rather than given permanent employment—unlike countries like Japan where commercial bus drivers are medically screened, trained and employed under a national system. 'In Singapore, the Land Transport Authority contracts bus services based on performance, not just price, ensuring safety standards are part of the business model. 'Even in Dubai, companies like Dubai Taxi Corporation run structured driver employment systems with safety and service built into their operations. Malaysia can do this, but we haven't,' he said. Wan Agyl said a structural reset would involve digitising compliance so that all commercial buses have real-time GPS devices that record speed and distance. To qualify for operating permits, bus companies should also be required to maintain detailed maintenance logs, he added. 'It means auditing and grading bus operators based on safety performance and disqualifying low-grade firms from winning government or tourism contracts. 'And it means finally enacting laws that hold company directors and operators liable — not just the man at the wheel—when systemic negligence leads to harm,' he said. Wan Agyl called for the formation of a national bus safety task force under the transport ministry, with representation from the road transport department, Land Public Transport Agency, Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research, and industry players. 'There is no reason for transport safety to be fragmented when lives are at stake,' he said.
Free Malaysia Today
13-06-2025
- Automotive
- Free Malaysia Today
Don't develop new bus drivers' database in isolation, says transport consultant
Transport minister Loke Siew Fook said the database will include all categories of bus drivers to ensure only responsible individuals are entrusted with the safety of passengers. (Bernama pic) PETALING JAYA : The development of a centralised database to track bus drivers with records of reckless or irresponsible driving, announced by the transport ministry today, cannot function in isolation, says a transport consultant. Wan Agyl Wan Hassan, the founder of the transport think tank My Mobility Vision, praised the database as an important step in the right direction, especially in the wake of recent tragedies. However, he said, it should be integrated directly with the Kejara demerit and traffic summons systems so drivers with unresolved high-risk infractions are automatically blocked from renewing licences or being dispatched for jobs. 'The goal should be to prevent unsafe drivers from getting behind the wheel in the first place; not just penalise them after a tragedy occurs,' he said. Earlier today, transport minister Loke Siew Fook said the database would include all categories of bus drivers to ensure only responsible individuals are entrusted with the safety of passengers. 'We aim to develop this database as a reference for bus operators and transport companies, particularly to identify drivers with prior offences,' New Straits Times reported him as saying. However, Wan Agyl urged the ministry to 'build on what already works', pointing out that some logistics industry sectors, particularly those dealing with hazardous materials, have deployed sophisticated digital compliance platforms. 'In some cases, they are already linked to enforcement data. Instead of developing a new system from scratch, we should explore how these tested tools can be expanded and adapted for broader national use covering buses, commercial fleets and other high-risk operators,' the former official of the now-defunct Land Public Transport Commission said. Besides integration of Kejara and the traffic summons system with the new database, Wan Agyl proposed that the platform be co-developed through public-private collaboration. '(This will bring) together government agencies, enforcement bodies, and industry players who already have the tools, data, and infrastructure in place,' he said.
Free Malaysia Today
23-05-2025
- Business
- Free Malaysia Today
Inject funds to boost public mobility, say transport experts
Public transport facilities in rural areas must be improved to match those in urban areas, such as the MRT system, according to transport experts. PETALING JAYA : Strengthening Malaysia's fiscal and financial position offers an opportunity to revitalise public transport systems for long-term public benefit, says a transport consultant. Wan Agyl Wan Hassan, founder of transport think tank My Mobility Vision, said this effort requires long-term commitment, political courage and the ability to reprioritise fiscal allocations. He said many rural residents still relied heavily on private vehicles due to poor bus services, incomplete route coverage and neglected infrastructure. He said this restricted their mobility and limited access to economic and social opportunities. Wan Agyl Wan Hassan. 'Now is the right time to take bold steps — redirect targeted RON95 fuel subsidy savings into public transport and public mobility,' he told FMT. According to a 2023 report by the Land Public Transport Agency, more than 70% of Malaysians still depended on private vehicles for daily travel. A study by the Malaysia Institute of Transport last year found that only 30% of highway users were willing to switch to public transport — provided it is more accessible. In the 2025 budget, the government allocated funds to the transport ministry to improve public service quality and reduce living costs. About 44% of that funding went towards public transport subsidies, including land rail services and air transport. Gary Foong. Key initiatives included continued subsidies for the My50 (RM50 unlimited monthly travel pass) and Mutiara Pas (for Penang), with an allocation of RM226 million. These were expected to benefit more than 180,000 users in the Klang Valley and the north. Transport expert Gary Foong echoed Wan Agyl's view, urging a stronger shift from private vehicle use to public transport to ease traffic congestion in Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, Penang and Johor Bahru. 'This initiative also supports carbon emission reductions and promotes a more sustainable low-carbon economy,' he said. Rosli Azad Khan. Another transport expert, Rosli Azad Khan, also stressed the need to improve rural public transport using savings from targeted subsidies. 'Conduct thorough studies and analysis to ensure the aid truly benefits those in need,' he said.
